A new forest fire engine was delivered to the Thunder Bay Fire Management Headquarters on May 19 as a new tool to fight road accessible forest fires in the region.
The brand-new engine, manufactured by Holland Enterprises in Kakabeka Falls is designed to carry a fire ranger crew, 1,000 gallons of water and all of the specialized firefighting equipment required to fight forest fires.
Fire ranger crews have been using trucks to deliver water to forest firefighters for more than 30 years but the development of a fire engine designed specifically for forest fires in Ontario is something new.
Holland has been retrofitting older truck chassis into engines for the MNR fire program for more than 15 years. This was their first opportunity to build a brand new engine body on a new truck chassis for the MNR.
There were 15 new forest fires in the West Fire Region between May 18 and 19. Dryden District has two active fires, Dryden 13 and Dryden 17. Dryden 13, located at the Ignace landfill site is listed as under control at 0.2 hectares in size.
Dryden 17, located 30 km west of Ignace is classed as being held at 1.7 hectares in size and no problems are anticipated.
Red Lake District has three active fires, Red Lakes fires 25, 26 and 27. Red Lake fire 25 located about 30 km southeast of Red Lake is a lightning-caused fire classed as not under control at 50 hectares in size.
Fire rangers made good progress on the fire on May 19 and although there are values in the vicinity of the fire, none are immediately threatened.
Red Lake fire 26, located about 110 km east of Red Lake, is classed as not under control at 340 hectares in size. Some cut wood values were lost and a value in the area is being protected by sprinkler systems. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Red Lake fire 27, located about 30 km north of Red Lake is classed as being held at one hectare in size and was a lightning caused fire.
Sioux Lookout District also has three fires, Sioux Lookout fires 36, 37 and 38. Sioux Lookout fire 36, located 65 km east of Ear Falls is classed as not under control at 10 hectares in size. The fire is burning in heavy storm damaged forest and progress is slow.
Sioux Lookout fire 37, located at the community of Weagamow Lake was responded to by the community fire officer, locals and an MNR fire ranger crew. It is classed as being held at 0.6 hectares in size.
Sioux Lookout fire 38, located at the community of Mishkeegogamang required air attack on May 19 and a commitment of three fire ranger crews. The fire is classed as not under control at four hectares.
Storm activity in the region is bringing rain but also lightning activity which is expected to result in lightning-caused fires in the coming days.
Four fires were declared out on May 24.