Latest east region forest fire update

MNR News Release

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The Northeast Fire Region received four new fires on Sunday, May 15. Fires occurred in Parry Sound (1), Sault Ste. Marie (1), Kirkland Lake (1) and Wawa (1) districts. Parry Sound 3 was reported on the railway right of way and is being held at 0.1 hectares. Sault Ste. Marie 9 was human caused, east of Goulais Bay and is not under control at 0.2 hectares. Kirkland Lake 3 was reported east of Marathon and is out at 0.1 hectares. Wawa 2 was reported southwest of Lake Abitibi and is being held at 1.0 hectares.

Two new fires were reported today in Sault Ste. Marie (1) and Sudbury (1) districts. Sault Ste. Marie 10 is not under control, and Sudbury 10 was reported west of Copper Cliff and is not under control at 0.2 hectares. There are no issues anticipated with these new fires.

Forty FireRangers and three overhead personnel from the Northeast Region will be deployed to Alberta on May 17 to assist with the fire situation in that province. In total, 85 personnel, including another 42 from Northwestern Ontario will be deployed from the province.

The weather in the Northeast Region is expected to be mainly sunny and dry with temperatures increasing over the next couple of days. There will also be light winds prevailing.

When cleaning up wood and grass debris, the ministry suggests composting, chipping or taking debris to a landfill site instead of burning. If you still decide to burn debris, residents are reminded that they are required to follow safe outdoor fire guidelines. In particular, there are restrictions on day burning of brush and grass. Fires are to be started no sooner than two hours before sunset, be extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise, attended at all times and put dead out before leaving.

If you live within a municipality, contact your local municipal office or fire department BEFORE burning.

Be FireSmart! For more information, visit ontario.ca/fireprevention and report forest fires using the toll-free reporting number: 310-FIRE (3473).

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