ATIKOKAN — The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued an evacuation alert for a number of areas due to a wildfire near Sapawe.
The 2,500-hectare fire, designated as Fort Frances 4, is still not under control.
In a notice issued Wednesday morning, the MNR said the evacuation alert is “due to the evolving situation and increased fire behaviour,” of the blaze.
“Residents and cottagers in the proximity of the fire are strongly encouraged to prepare to evacuate on short notice.”
The areas under the alert include:
- All areas accessed by Camp 111 Road and Crooked Pine Road (Blalock Road).
- Nydia Lake
- Eva Lake
- Kawene Lake
- Marion Lake and Marion Lake Road
- Crystal Lake and all roads accessing Crystal Lake
- Niobe Lake
- Nickleby Lake Road and Nickleby Lake
- Sapawe Lake, Sapawe Mill, Sapawe Road and Sapawe/Upsala Road
- Premier Lake Road
- Marmion Lake – Reserve Island, Marmion Lake – Hoist Camp Narrows and Marmion Lake – Reserve Bay
- Osinawi Lake
- Pipeline Road
- Sawbill Road
- Cloven Road
- Pinecone Road
- Caldwell Road
- Hardtack Road
The MNR is encouraging people to make sure they’re aware of the fire situation, prepare an emergency bag with essentials, such as medicine, passports and legal documents, be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, respect evacuation orders and to give fire crews and aircraft space to work.
In its most recent daily update, issued late Tuesday evening, the ministry said that heavy smoke was limiting the effectiveness of air attack on the fire.
Fire ranger crews were working on the south end of blaze and focusing on values protection in the north.
