Two Active Fires in West Region
Forest Fire Situation Weekly Update
West Fire Region
October 14, 2010
Currently, there are two active fires in the West Fire Region. Both fires are located in the Fort Frances District. One fire, located within Quetico Provincial Park is being monitored rather than suppressed in order to allow for ecosystem renewal.
The second fire, located along the Canada/United States border in the Fort Frances District, is being suppressed by FireRanger crews. It is not expected to pose any problems and is classed as Under Control.
Two prescribed burns are scheduled for ignition over the next two days.
Red Lake District is planning to ignite the Odin Lake Prescribed Burn. It is located about 48 kilometres north, northwest of Red Lake on Odin Lake in the Valhalla region. The project area is approximately 1,400 hectares in size.
Fort Frances District is planning to ignite the Pekagoning Lake Prescribed Burn. It is located about 60 kilometres northwest of Atikokan at Pekagoning Lake. The project area is approximately 140 hectares in size and consists of two blocks, one on the mainland and the other on an island. This is partially within the Turtle River – White Otter Lake Provincial Park.
The main objective of the prescribed burning is research in storm damaged forest fuels; however an additional benefit of burning is hazard reduction.
To date this fire season in the West Fire Region there have been 363 fires with an area burned of 9,605 hectares.
Out of province resource support is wrapping up with the return of the final load of equipment from British Columbia scheduled for October 15.
For residents planning to do brush or grass burning for fall clean-up, they are reminded that under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario, there is no day-burning of these fires. They are to be started no sooner than two hours before sunset and be out no later than two hours after sunrise.
People pursuing hunting and recreational activities in the forest areas are cautioned to manage their campfires carefully, keeping them small, attending them at all times and making sure they are dead out before leaving the site.
