Wawa forest fire reported under control

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

************************* Forest Fire Situation Update - East Fire Region

PHOTO CAPTION: Dramatic photograph of Sioux Lookout Fire 35 taken on June 22 by Darrell Carter.

(June 24) - There was one new fire reported in the Northeast Region on Thursday, June 23. Cochrane 10 was reported west of Attawapiskat and is being held at 0.5 hectares.

An additional two fires are still active in the region.

Wawa 12 was reported northwest of Manitouwadge and is under control at 60.0 hectares.

Cochrane 6 was reported southwest of Kashechewan and is being observed at 500.0 hectares.

No new fires were reported by the evening of June 24. The Far North through the Hudson Bay region will see sunny skies with temperatures from the high teens to low twenties.

Showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue with moderate to strong winds.

Tomorrow, clouds will remain across much of the northeast region.

The hazard is low to moderate throughout the southern half of the region but remains high in the northern portion of the region.

Today, approximately 100 staff return home from Alberta, which completes Ontario’s assistance to the province.

Ontario personnel spent over six weeks fighting some of the worst fires in that province’s history.

Evacuation of Mishkeegogomang First Nations in northwestern Ontario due to forest fire smoke (from Sioux Lookout 35) was completed on June 23.

Over 400 residents were transported to Sioux Lookout, Ignace and Greenstone.

Sioux Lookout 35 remains listed as not under control and is now 37,703 hectares.

An emergency area order (EAO) takes effect June 25, 2011 at one minute after midnight.

An EAO is used when a forest fire situation warrants the use of special measures to ensure public safety, help with an evacuation, and to ensure effective forest fire management, by closing roads or stopping the movement of people into the areas threatened by smoke or fire.

Planning on enjoying a campfire this weekend?

Keep your fire small, build it on bare rock or dirt, never leave it unattended and make sure it is completely extinguished before leaving the site.

Drown! Stir! Drown!

If you live within a municipality, contact your local municipal office or fire department before burning.

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