FireRangers battle against more than 100 wildland fires in Northwest Region, Restricted Fire Zone remains in place

Tim Brody - Editor

More than 100 active wildland fires continue to burn in the Northwest Region according to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). 
AFFES shard in their Northwest Region Forest Fire Situation Update released on Sunday evening, “At the time of this update there are 122 active wildland fires in the Northwest Region. Of those fires, 26 are not under control, 4 are being held, 4 are under control 88 are being observed.” 
AFFES Fires of note:
Thunder Bay 36 (THU036)
Additional crews arrived on the fire line from Alberta Wildfire on July 25. 
The fire remains at 313, 930 hectares and is classified as not under control.
Fire crews are continuing to locate and extinguish hot spots along the fire perimeter, with helicopter bucketing operations providing support.
Heavy equipment operators are making good progress constructing fire guards.
Values protection efforts are ongoing. 
Atikokan Cluster - Fort Frances 14 (FOR014), Fort Frances 15 (FOR015), Fort Frances 38 (FOR038)
FOR014 is currently measuring 51,806 hectares and remains not under control.
FOR015 is currently measuring 42,279 hectares and remains not under control.
Infrared scanning flights are providing targets for firefighting crews and bucketing helicopters to find an extinguish. 
Ontario and Alberta firefighters are continuing to patrol the fire perimeters and are making good progress establishing hose lines.
FireRanger crews assigned to a specialized wildland fire engine are establishing hose lines near road accessible areas. 
FOR038, north of Crystal Lake, is under control at 44.2 hectares in size. Firefighters are using infrared scanning maps to seek out an extinguish remaining hotspots.
Sioux Lookout 72 – Cat Lake First Nation
The fire is currently measuring 23,597 hectares and is not under control. 
FireRanger crews are making good progress on suppression efforts supported by bucketing helicopters targeting hotspots.
Hydro One has replaced burnt poles along the Cat Lake hydro line and power has been restored.
Brightsand Cluster - Dryden 34 (DRY034), Dryden 35 (DRY035), Thunder Bay 54 (THU054), and Thunder Bay 56 (THU056)
There have been no significant changes to the fire perimeters in several days. 
Minimal fire behaviour was observed again today. 
DRY034 is currently measuring 44,954 hectares and remains not under control.
DRY035 is currently measuring 22,461 hectares and remains not under control.
FireRanger crews are working establishing hose lines alongside heavy equipment operators constructing fire guards along portions of DRY035.
THU054 is currently measuring 7,859 hectares and remains not under control.
THU056 is currently measuring 7,947 hectares and remains not under control. 
Bucketing helicopters are targeting hotspots while heavy equipment operators construct fire guards along portions of THU056.
Dryden 36 – Upper and Lower Moosehide Lakes
The fire is currently measuring 1,784 hectares and is not under control. 
Ontario FireRangers are working alongside Alberta Wildfire firefighters, bucketing helicopters and heavy equipment operators in suppression operations.
Minimal growth has been observed in several days under favourable weather conditions. 
Highway 599 Cluster – Sioux Lookout 84 (SLK084), Sioux Lookout 86 (SLK086), Sioux Lookout 89 (SLK089)
An Alberta Wildfire Incident Management Team has assumed command of the cluster of fires. 
SLK084 is currently measuring 4,796.6 hectares and remains not under control.
SLK086 is currently measuring 5,644 hectares and remains not under control.
SLK089 is currently measuring 7,190.1 hectares and remains not under control.
There has been no fire recent growth observed on cluster of fires.
The complex welcomed additional fire crews from Alberta Wildfire on July 25.
Bucketing helicopters are targeting hotspots while firefighters patrol the fire line for smokes. 
A Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) remains in effect for much of the Northwest Region, including the Sioux Lookout area, and part of the Northeast Region. 
To report a wildland fire located north of the French and Mattawa rivers, people are asked to dial 310-FIRE (3473). To report a wildland fire located south of the French or Mattawa Rivers, people are asked to dial 9-1-1.
“For tips on preventing wildland fires and information on the current fire situation, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X in English and French: @ONforestfires and @ONfeudeforet. For more information about the current wildland fire situation, visit Ontario.ca/FireUpdates.