NWO fire update

News — 03 August 2011

Good news for most First Nations residents, they are returning home. On August 1, flights were scheduled to bring approximately 700 residents back to Sandy Lake, North Spirit Lake and Koocheching.

To date, 2,582 evacuated residents are back in their home communities and approximately 418 were planned to be returned August 1. Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) estimates that all residents will return home by August 3, 2011 based on current plans.

There has been increased activity on the 115 active fires in the Northwest Region, and both the Northwest and the Northeast Region are reporting new forest fires. This brings the number of active fires across the province to about 125.

Some fires were showing extreme fire behaviour on July 31, including several new lighting caused fires that required concentrated effort to put out.

The emphasis will be on the safe response to fires including recycling of current resources with fresh personnel, and focusing on public and firefighter safety.

With a return to hot, dry and windy weather in Northwestern Ontario, firefighting resources continue to face challenges in managing the fires burning across the far north. The number of new fires is on the rise and every day is a busy day for firefighting resources.

It was a busy long weekend with about 35 new fires between July 30 and August 1 in the Northwest Region. There were 10 new fires on August 1, 20 new fires on July 31 and five new fires on July 30.

Smoke and fire issues are developing as the effects of rain in the previous week dry out. Although rain is in the forecast, fire management personnel will wait to see “rain in the gauge” before planning for any easing of the fire situation.

On the afternoon of July 30 a low level jet stream with strong, gusty winds blew into fires on the South Bay Complex including Red Lake Fire 84, now almost 40,000 hectares in size, and Sioux Lookout Fires 61 and 64.

Fire behaviour analysts observed the fire spreading at a rate of 30-35 metres per minute. Wind gusts reached 60 kilometres per hour with sustained winds of 30 kilometres

Firefighting crews were withdrawn from the fire line on two sections of the fire on Red Lake 84 to ensure their safety.

Both Sioux Lookout 61 and Sioux Lookout 64 exhibited extreme fire behaviour along the eastern flank on July 30. Fire crews managed to contain the fire with support from aerial attack by CL-415 heavy water bombers.

Crews there remain on alert to unpredictable winds. Strong winds and dry, hot weather increase the potential for further flare ups and fire escaping past established perimeters.

There remain over 2,000 fire personnel engaged in fire suppression in Ontario. Four hundred eighty four personnel are from other parts of the country.

Outdoor fires are allowed, but people are asked to use caution with their fires. For details on public responsibility for safe outdoor fire management under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario visit www.ontario.ca/fireprevention. If people are in an organized municipality or First Nations community, they must check with local fire officials before having an outdoor fire as there may be fire bans or local bylaws in place.

By Ally Dunham

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