DRYDEN – The Ministry of Natural Resources is watching the weather closely as crews battle blazes near Deer Lake and Webequie First Nations, a fire information officer said Monday.
Chris Marchand said rain is expected in Northwestern Ontario, but how much and where remains to be seen.
“Cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity might help moderate some of the fire behaviour that we’re seeing,” he said.
“And in a temporary sense, there’s the potential for lightning as well to accompany these weather systems, which holds the possibility of new fire starts for the region.
“Basically right now the fire hazard in the region remains high to extreme, and the restricted fire zone remains in place across most of the Northwest.”
Also, Marchand said, “I don’t think I have to tell anybody that it’s smoky out there.”
The fire near Deer Lake, a First Nation community north of Red Lake that evacuated after declaring a state of emergency last week, has grown to almost 18,000 hectares but has expanded away from the community, he said.
An “air attack” of water bombers and helicopters aid crews on the ground has helped keep the fire dubbed Red Lake 12 away from Deer Lake structures, he said – but “heavy smoke and poor visibility could challenge our ability to have aerial operations today in the area.”
Sprinklers have been installed to protect Deer Lake buildings, he added.
The Nipigon 5 fire that prompted a state of emergency and evacuation in Webequie also grew over the weekend, Marchand said.
He added that, like Red Lake 12, Nipigon 5 is expanding away from populated areas.
“That fire is now an estimated 7,500 hectares of burning to the east and southeast of the community, and … water bombers, helicopters and fire ranger crews have been at work suppressing the edges of the fire that are closest to the community and protecting structures in the area with sprinkler systems.”
Webequie First Nation declared a state of emergency and started phase 1 evacuation – for vulnerable individuals such as small children, elders who are sick and people with asthma – to Barrie on Friday.
The First Nation has posted an advisory on Facebook saying residents still in the community on Winisk Lake should “remain indoors as a precaution” due to heavy smoke from the fire.
“Please avoid outdoor activities if you are experiencing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath or throat irritation,” the advisory says.
The 18,000-hectare blaze near Deer Lake is not the biggest wildfire in the Northwest region.
The MNR estimated Kenora 20, northwest of the city of Kenora, to be just over 35,150 hectares on Sunday.
Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, east of the Kenora 12 fire, has been evacuated since mid-May.
