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There are 66 active forest fires burning in the northeast, 26 of which are burning out of control.
As of this morning, there were seven new fires burning.
Today's humidity is certainly helping minimize new fires and help minimize the spread, but it isn't enough to put an end to one of the busiest forest fire seasons is recent memory.
And with a risk of thunderstorms over the next 12 to 24 hours, lightning strikes could make more work for the firefighters looking to keep those blazes under control. But the forest is also calling for scattered showers and minimal precipitation, which would help.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (or more specifically the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services division), since June 29th, MNRF has recorded more than 165,000 lightning strikes across the Ontario.
Temagami area fires
Temagami has downgraded the mandatory evacuation orders for Temagami Shores, at the south edge of the town of Temagami out to Jessie Lake and including Bell Island on Lake Temagami, to an evacuation alert.
This means residents can return home, but MNRF is warning those who return that they can be asked to leave again at any time, depending on the fire situation.
Travel restrictions in place
With active fires in a cluster around Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, Lake Temagami and in parts of the North Bay District, MNRF has issued an Emergency Area Order to restrict travel in the areas near the fires.
All travel and use of the following roads is restricted:
- McLaren’s Road
- Gibbons Road
- Baie-Jeanne Road
- South Pardo Road
- St. Joseph’s Road
- George Gordon and Iron Lake Road
- Cooke Lake Road
- Beauty Lake Road
- Roadhouse Tower Road
- Mountain Lake Road
- Klock Road
- Goulard Road starting at Lower Goose Falls
- Red Squirrel Lake Road beyond the Barmac Gate
Travel in these areas is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District office of the MNRF.
All travel into backcountry parks (Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Obabika River, Makobe-Grays River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks) and all Crown lands in the same areas is prohibited until the fires are brought under control or conditions change.
Out of province resources
Fire crews from Alberta and British Columbia arrived in Ontario on Monday to assist with the fire situation. Fifteen three-person crews from British Columbia and ten four-person crews from Alberta have been deployed to priority fires on July 10.
CL415 water bombers and T802 Fire Boss amphibian equipment from Alberta and Saskatchewan are currently supporting Ontario’s fire suppression operations.
Additional personnel have arrived from Alberta this morning, bringing five four-person initial attack crews and a 19-person Incident Management Team with 8 support staff.
Smoke in the air
MNRF is warning residents of the Tri-Towns, Elk Lake, Earlton, Kenabeec, Kerns and surrounding areas that smoke may be heavy tonight.
For the latest fire information, visit Ontario.ca/forestfire.
Important phone numbers
For information about these travel restrictions, dial 705-475-5546. For members of the public who have questions or concerns, dial 705-564-6165. For inquiries on highway closures, call 5-1-1.
To report a forest fire located north of the French and Mattawa rivers, dial 310-FIRE (3473). To report a forest fire south of the French or Mattawa rivers, please dial 911.
For the latest fire information on Twitter, follow @ONForestFires for Enlish or @ONFeuDeForêt for French.
