Two Prescribed Burns Ignited
West Fire Region
October 15, 2010
Please note – the next update is scheduled for Friday, October 22
Two prescribed burns were ignited in the West Fire Region on October 15.
Red Lake District ignited 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. The prescribed burn consists of nine blocks ranging in size from 25 to 272 hectares and ignition on the project which began on October 15 is scheduled to continue on October 16.
Fort Frances District ignited the Pekagoning Lake Prescribed Burn on October 15. 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. Ignition on this prescribed burn is expected to be completed on October 15.
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.
