Ontario is sending more resources to battle BC fires

MNR News Release

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Six new fires were confirmed on August 18. Chapleau 37 is under control at 0.2 hectares. North Bay 93 was 0.2 hectares and has been declared out. Sudbury 155 was 0.2 hectares and has been declared out. Sudbury 156 is being held at 0.1 hectares. Sudbury 157 was 0.1 hectares and has been declared out. Timmins 47 has also been declared out. There are no issues anticipated with any of the new fires that remain active.

Ontario will be sending more resources to British Columbia. Two hundred and twenty two forest fire fighting personnel, including 10 20-pack crews, an Incident Management Team and three overhead personnel will be leaving on August 21. Ontario currently has 334 staff in British Columbia.

Be FireSmart, visit http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/AFFM/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165412.html for more information on how to prevent forest fires.

Residents are reminded that if found responsible for a forest fire, they can be charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and/or be liable for the costs of suppressing the fire. This cost can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

To view the current forest fire hazard in your area, visit http://forest.lrc.gov.on.ca/AFFM/fire/interactivemap/fireHazard_English.htm to view the Fire Danger Map.

310-FIRE (3473) is the new, toll-free emergency forest fire reporting phone number across northern Ontario. The number will operate north of the French and Mattawa Rivers.

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