Latest news with #AFFES
CBC
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
After weeks of escalation, rainfall has reduced wildfire hazards across northwestern Ontario
Social Sharing Recent rainfall has reduced the wildfire hazard across northwestern Ontario, though the region's largest wildfire is now more than 194,000 hectares large. Red Lake 12 — the fire that has forced community evacuations in Deer Lake First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation — remains not under control. However, precipitation and cooler temperatures have given FireRangers more breathing room over the past few days and have also reduced smoke levels. "The impact of the recent precipitation is expected to keep fire behaviour minimal over the next few days," fire information officer Alison Bezubiak of Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) told CBC News on Tuesday. However, thunderstorms this past weekend have created the potential for holdover fires caused by lightning, which crews will be monitoring over the next week, she said. "Holdover fires can remain undetected and may not become visible until conditions dry out, winds increase and temperatures rise, sometimes surfacing more than a week after the initial strike," Bezubiak said. Red Lake 12 has 23 firefighting crews assigned to three divisions on the fire's south and eastern perimeters, supported by 18 helicopters, including four heavy helicopters with increased bucketing capacity, Ontario Forest Fires said in its latest update. As of Tuesday night, there were two dozen wildfires in the northwest, though only four were considered not under control. These include Sioux Lookout 18 near Cat Lake First Nation, which is more than 23,000 hectares large. "An incident management team is assigned to this wildland fire, as well as 10 FireRanger crews and five helicopters," Ontario Forest Fires said. "Conditions are expected to continue drying gradually throughout the week." Nipigon 5, the 10,800-hectare wildfire that prompted Webequie First Nation's evacuation, is now being held, and evacuees are back home. Fire suppression gains made in Kenora area Crews have made significant headway in the Kenora fire management sector, as a fire known as Kenora 14 was officially called out on Monday. Other fires, Kenora 20 and Kenora 32, are now both under control as of Tuesday, Bezubiak said. "Kenora 14 and Kenora 20 in particular were challenging fires in challenging locations. We commend the hundreds of firefighting personnel, overhead staff, flight crew, support staff, the incident management teams, everybody who dedicated their time and expertise to bringing these fires to their current status, which was also helped along by that recent rainfall," she said. With summer officially here and festivities such as Canada Day coming up, Bezubiak said it's important for people to abide by outdoor burning regulations to prevent the spread of human-caused fires. "We encourage anybody who's planning to celebrate Canada Day with fireworks to exercise extreme caution and consider attending an organized fireworks venue instead of setting off your own inside Ontario's fire region," she said. For example, people can be charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act for their part in wildfires caused by hot residue from fireworks. "It is extremely important to extinguish any residue after setting off fireworks. It's also important to check with your local municipality, as they may have local burn bans or burn bylaws that prohibit the use of fireworks within municipalities," Bezubiak said. Those planning to light a campfire are also reminded to "build your fire on rock or bare soil to prevent it from spreading, keep it small and fully extinguish it with water when you're done," she said.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Deer Lake First Nation evacuation begins as wildfires ramp up across the region
As crews work to douse a dozen wildfires in northwestern Ontario, new restrictions are being put in place in hopes of preventing further damage. On Wednesday, Deer Lake First Nation called for a community evacuation due to a 100-hectare wildfire known as Red Lake 12, located near the remote community's airport. CL415 waterbombers worked throughout the afternoon until dark to reduce the fire's intensity. By morning, it had grown to about 2,500 hectares. While it is moving in a westerly direction away from the community, chief and council have requested a Phase 1 evacuation of vulnerable people starting Thursday, said Chris Marchand, fire information officer with Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES). "That certainly illustrates the very dry conditions that we're seeing and have seen over the last several weeks," Marchand told CBC News in an interview Thursday afternoon. "This area close to the Manitoba border has not seen more than 10 millimetres of rain in weeks, and there really isn't a lot to look forward to in the forecast." About 1,100 people live in Deer Lake, an Oji-Cree community in Treaty 5 located about 180 kilometres north of Red Lake. It is only accessible by air or winter road. CBC News has reached out to community leadership and officials and is waiting to confirm details about where evacuees from Deer Lake are being sent. Dave Tarini, deputy chief of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue, said evacuees will be hosted in southern Ontario, but he is unaware of the exact location. Further south, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations has been under an evacuation order since May 13; evacuees are staying in Niagara Falls, Kenora and Winnipeg due to Kenora 20, which is now 34,000 hectares large. Meanwhile, east of Deer Lake, Webequie First Nation issued a pre-evacuation notice to its members on Wednesday, urging them to create 72-hour emergency kits due to Nipigon 5, which is within one kilometre of the First Nation. "Out of caution, chief and council, alongside health officials, are advising all residents — especially those with respiratory conditions or chronic health issues — to remain indoors as much as possible. Air quality and fire movement will continue to be monitored on an hourly basis," the First Nation said in an update issued Thursday. Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, alongside Environment and Climate Change Canada, have issued special air quality statements for much of the northwest. These span as far north as Fort Severn, east to Geraldton, south to Dryden and west to Kenora, affecting more than a dozen First Nations. On Wednesday evening, Ontario's (AFFES) reported that: Five fires are under control. Three fires are being held. Three fires are not under control. Four fires have been called out over the last 24 hours. New restricted fire zone in effect Friday As of midnight on Friday, Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is enforcing a new restricted fire zone in the northwest. Another restricted fire zone has been in effect since May 16, including areas between the U.S. and Manitoba borders to Atikokan, and north to Pickle Lake. The new restricted zone extends eastward from the existing boundaries near Upsala and Quetico Park in the south to encompass the Thunder Bay area, with the Nipigon River acting as the new eastern boundary, Marchand explained. "At a time when we have significant fire activity that is affecting various communities and engaging so much of our resources, it's important that we take these measures to limit the potential for human-caused fires at this time," he said. Under a restricted fire zone, no open-air burning, including campfires, is permitted. "Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth but must be handled with extreme caution. All burning permits are suspended," Ontario Forest Fires says on its website. The City of Thunder Bay is also issuing its own fire ban, which will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. No open-air burning will be permitted, and all burn permits suspended, until the provincial restricted fire zone is lifted, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue said in a media release issued Thursday.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire within 1 kilometre of Deer Lake First Nation prompts call for community evacuation
Dry conditions creating high to extreme fire behaviour, fast rate of spread Image | Wildfire smoke northwestern Ontario Caption: A photo of wildfire smoke posted to Facebook May 24, 2025 by Ontario Forest Fires. A number of restrictions remain in effect in the region, including a restricted fire zone, travel bans and limits on access to certain lakes and waterways, as the wildland fire hazard remains high to extreme. (Ontario Forest Fires/Facebook) Open Image in New Tab Water bombers and bird dog aircraft are responding to a wildfire near Deer Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario, which has prompted leadership to request a community evacuation. The fire, known as Red Lake 12, is within one kilometre of Deer Lake's airport, fire information officer Chris Marchand told CBC News. "The fire has quickly grown in size to 100 hectares and community officials are guiding residents to a safe zone near the bay close to the nursing station," Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) posted on Facebook Wednesday evening. About 1,100 people live in Deer Lake, an Oji-Cree community in Treaty 5 located about 180 kilometres north of Red Lake. It is only accessible by air or winter road. Shortly before 5:30 p.m. CST, southwest winds were pushing the flames away from the community, Marchand said, though he noted the situation was quickly evolving. West of Deer Lake, Manitoba has declared a provincewide state of emergency as wildfires are rapidly spreading across the region. "We have not at all had enough moisture to really get us out of these escalating fire conditions," said Marchand. "This ongoing lack of rainfall over the past several weeks, particularly near the Manitoba border, is resulting in some really high to extreme fire behaviour and fast rates of spread." Late Wednesday afternoon, Webequie First Nation issued a pre-evacuation notice to its members due to a nearby wildfire, encouraging people to prepare 72-hour emergency kits with medications, ID, water, clothing and charging cables as a precaution. "As one set of tankers were headed to Deer Lake, another set of tankers were headed to that community," Marchand said. Earlier in May, an evacuation order was issued in Wabaseemoong Independent Nations due to Kenora 20, an active wildfire in the northwest which is now 32,000 hectares large. Evacuees are staying in Niagara Falls, Winnipeg and Kenora. A number of restrictions remain in effect in the region, including a restricted fire zone, travel bans and limits on access to certain lakes and waterways, as the wildland fire hazard remains high to extreme. "We would ask that residents obey the restricted fire zone at this time, when we have a lot of our resources engaged in emerging situations. We don't need any more human-caused fires on the landscape," Marchand said.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Brush fires keep crews busy in Thunder Bay, Ont., as conditions remain dry
Several brush fires west of Thunder Bay broke out late Wednesday afternoon A cluster of brush fires west of Thunder Bay, Ont., kept crews busy on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Platoon Chief Jo Rucchin said in a news release that the department began getting several 911 calls around 3 p.m. ET. People were reporting fires "along the rail line extending from the Thunder Bay Airport area to beyond Twin City Crossroads." "Thunder Bay Fire Rescue immediately deployed multiple pumper crews to respond to the fires, prioritizing the protection of residential properties along the affected corridor," the news release said. "Crews worked swiftly to contain and suppress multiple fire sites stretching from the Airport to Twin City Crossroads." It took five hours to get the fires under control, with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue working with Ministry of Natural Resources crews and the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department. No homes or buildings were destroyed, according to the news release. Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said CL415 waterbombers were used to help suppress a fire known as Thunder Bay 9, which was burning south of the airport. 'Fires can get away quickly' One of the brush fires just north of Arthur Street West and 25th Side Road was not far from Sarjeant Propane supply company. "Crews on scene right now are just mopping up," Shane Zimmer, captain with the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, told CBC on the site of the fire around 8:30 p.m. ET. "We took a little while to get the whole fire shut down. But it looks like it's pretty much done now." Zimmer said he doesn't know how the fire started, and that it will be investigated. However, he said it's a good reminder to be extremely cautious right now. "Fires can get away quite quickly," he said. All of Oliver Paipoonge township is currently under a fire ban. Road closures and cancellations Late in the afternoon, the Thunder Bay Police Service had advised people to avoid the Oliver Paipoonge municipality as crews responded to a fire between Arthur Street West and Highway 11/17. They were also asking people to avoid Arthur Street West between the 20th Side Road and the Highway 11/17 junction. Thunder City Speedway closed for the evening and rescheduled races for Thursday evening. Meanwhile, several large forest fires remain out of control in northwestern Ontario, with high to extreme conditions in some western parts of the province.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Brush fires keep crews busy in Thunder Bay, Ont., as conditions remain dry
A cluster of brush fires west of Thunder Bay, Ont., kept crews busy on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Platoon Chief Jo Rucchin said in a news release that the department began getting several 911 calls around 3 p.m. ET. People were reporting fires "along the rail line extending from the Thunder Bay Airport area to beyond Twin City Crossroads." "Thunder Bay Fire Rescue immediately deployed multiple pumper crews to respond to the fires, prioritizing the protection of residential properties along the affected corridor," the news release said. "Crews worked swiftly to contain and suppress multiple fire sites stretching from the Airport to Twin City Crossroads." It took five hours to get the fires under control, with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue working with Ministry of Natural Resources crews and the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department. No homes or buildings were destroyed, according to the news release. Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said CL415 waterbombers were used to help suppress a fire known as Thunder Bay 9, which was burning south of the airport. 'Fires can get away quickly' One of the brush fires just north of Arthur Street West and 25th Side Road was not far from Sarjeant Propane supply company. "Crews on scene right now are just mopping up," Shane Zimmer, captain with the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, told CBC on the site of the fire around 8:30 p.m. ET. "We took a little while to get the whole fire shut down. But it looks like it's pretty much done now." Zimmer said he doesn't know how the fire started, and that it will be investigated. However, he said it's a good reminder to be extremely cautious right now. "Fires can get away quite quickly," he said. All of Oliver Paipoonge township is currently under a fire ban. Road closures and cancellations Late in the afternoon, the Thunder Bay Police Service had advised people to avoid the Oliver Paipoonge municipality as crews responded to a fire between Arthur Street West and Highway 11/17. They were also asking people to avoid Arthur Street West between the 20th Side Road and the Highway 11/17 junction. Thunder City Speedway closed for the evening and rescheduled races for Thursday evening.
