MNR fire crews continue battle against Northwestern Ontario wildfires

Tim Brody - Editor

Fifty-two active wildfires are currently burning in the Northwest Region according to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Aviation, Forest Fire, and Emergency Services’ (AFFES) July 13 evening report.
Among them, 13 are not under control, 4 are being held, 7 are under control, and 28 are being observed AFFES informed. 
AFFES notes that, “The wildland fire hazard is low to moderate across the majority of the Northwest Region, except for the western edge of the Region along the Ontario-Manitoba border. From the town of Fort Frances and spanning northward to Opasquia Provincial Park, the hazard is mainly high, with an area of extreme hazard around Weeskayjahk Ohtahzhoganeeng Provincial Park.”
 To view the fire hazard conditions across the province, people can view the province’s Interactive Fire Map at (https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/ForestFireInformationMap/index.html?viewer=FFIM.FFIM).
AFFES shared the following information on Fires of Note across the region:
Red Lake 40 – North Spirit Lake First Nation
•    Red Lake 40 has been remapped to 8,789 hectares and remains not under control.
•    Three crews continue setting up sprinkler systems on structures and critical infrastructure in the community of North Spirit Lake.
•    When conditions allow, crews will be placed on the fire’s northern perimeter to prevent its spread towards North Spirit Lake.
Red Lake 62 – Pikangikum First Nation
•    Red Lake 62 is 31,367 hectares in size and remains not under control.
•    Fire behaviour was reported to be lower than recent days today on Red Lake 62.
•    Patchy rainfall over the past 24 hours saw as much 16 mm of precipitation in rain gauges in the fire’s southeast section and approximately 2 mm near the fire’s north end.
•    Eleven firefighting crews have been assigned across two divisions of the fire, supported by fire engines, heavy equipment and aircraft.
•    Crews and equipment are focused on the fire’s north and southeast perimeters.

Red Lake 67 - McDowell Lake First Nation
•    Red Lake 67 is measuring 32,364 hectares and remains not under control.
•    Structural protection (sprinklers) on buildings and critical infrastructure is complete at McDowell Lake First Nation and systems are being maintained.
•    Structural protection efforts are also taking place south of the fire.
Red Lake 72 – east of Poplar Hill
•    Red Lake 72 is now measuring 4,941 hectares remains not under control.
•    Four crews continue to extinguish spot fires on the east side of McInnes Lake and reclaim equipment for new hose lines.
Sioux Lookout 54 – Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug/Big Trout Lake First Nation
•    Sioux Lookout 54 is currently measuring 176.0 hectares in size and is now being held. 
•    Crews continue to establish hose lines working along side bucketing helicopters to suppress the fire in priority areas. 
Restrictions in effect - Red Lake 62 
AFFES shared, “The Ministry of Natural Resources’ Far North District has invoked an Implementation Order now in effect for the purposes of public safety and/or effectual fire suppression, for areas near Red Lake 62 (RED062) Under the Emergency Area Order EAO 2025-011 declared on July 12, 2025.
“Unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Far North District office of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), no person shall enter into the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map, and all persons are encouraged to evacuate said area.
“Specifically, all travel and use of the following areas is prohibited:
•    Nungesser Road from (and including) the Coli Road junction north to Peekwatahmaewee Sahkaheekahn/Berens Lake. 
•    Coli Road Including the Coli Lake cottage subdivision and Coli Lake campground, Sidace Road, North Road, Caribou Road, Taxi Bay Road, Pikangikum Road.
•    All other trails, winter roads, operational roads, and branch roads within the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map.
“All modes of travel and/or access, including aircraft, into the following areas are prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Far North District office of the MNR:
•    Nungesser Lake, Nungesser River, Coli Lake, Coli Creek, Sidace Lake, Stormer Lake, Wahshaykahmeesheeng/Kirkness Lake, Kirkness Creek, Peekwatahmaewee Sahkaheekahn/Berens Lake, Zimring Lake, Philp Lake, Pedlar lake, Pringle Lake including the Sahkeesahkahteekoh weesuhkaheegahn Dedicated Protected Area (Ontario Parks), Boughton Lake, Kavanagh Lake, Odin Lake, Kahnahmaykoosaysensikahk/Valhalla Lake, Maria Bay, Murfitt Lake, Upper and Lower Remote Lake, Dowling Lake, Dowling River, Hornblendite Lake, Harding Lake, Woodey Lake, Uren Lake, Lillycrop Lake, Baisley Lake, Minnett Lake, Treversh Lake, Sims Lake, Deebank Lake, Openshaw Lake, Lavis Lake, Teeple Lake, Rieger Lake, Sambells Lake, Peall Lake, Naylor Lake, Wyman Lake, Reigate Lake, Storey Lake, Toutin Lake, the north portion of Little Vermilion Lake, and the south portion of Peekahchekahmeewee Sahkaheekahn/Pikangikum Lake.
•    All other waterbodies, Private Land, and Crown Land as outlined in the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map.”
To report a wildland fire located north of the French and Mattawa rivers people are asking to dial 310-FIRE. To report a wildland fire located south of the French or Mattawa Rivers people are asked to dial 9-1-1. Tips on preventing wildland fires and information on the current fire situation can be found on Facebook, Instagram and X in English and French: @ONforestfires and @ONfeudeforet. For more information about the current wildland fire situation, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/forest-fires.