Forest fire near Echo Lake under control

NEWS RELEASE MINSTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES ************************* On August 11 two new fires were reported. Sault Ste. Marie 24 was confirmed at 0.2 ha and is located near Echo Lake. This fire is currently under control.

NEWS RELEASE

MINSTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

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On August 11 two new fires were reported.

Sault Ste. Marie 24 was confirmed at 0.2 ha and is located near Echo Lake.

This fire is currently under control.

At the time this report was completed, one new fire has been confirmed as Sudbury 51 west of Madawansan Lake, which itself is west of Spanish River Provincial Park.

Crews are working to contain the 1.4 ha fire that is currently not under control.

Fire Hazard

The fire hazard is low in the central and southern portions of the region, while the north is experiencing a low to moderate hazard. Mainly cloudy skies with periods of rain, showers and thunderstorms will blanket the region today.

Rainfall amounts can be expected to reach up to 40mm in the northeast. Tempertures will be in the 15 to 20 degree range.

Regional Synopsis

There are currently six active fires, none of which present an immediate danger to people or values. Any active fires reported before August 11 are under control, with the exception of fires in the Cochrane region that are being observed.

To date this season, 163 fires have been confirmed, burning a total of 4,165 ha of land.

Out of Province Deployment

There are now 373 personnel from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on assignment in British Columbia (211) and the Northwest Territories (162) to assist in ongoing forest fire management efforts.

Ontario has also provided equipment including 430 power pumps, 41 portable relay tanks, 6,000 lengths of hose and two values protection units to British Columbia.

This map shows the general location of Ontario resources on out-of-province assignments.

Be FireSmart!

Did you know? About 200,000 hectares of forest are burned each year and forest fires can cost millions of dollars to put out. Often, unattended campfires are the cause.

If you're going camping and plan to have a campfire, please ensure you build a safe campfire.

Keep your campfire small, have water nearby and never leave it unattended. Once you are finished, make sure your campfire is completely extinguished.

Under the Forest Fires Prevention Act (FFPA), if you start a wildfire, you could be held liable for the costs of suppressing the fire.

For tips on how to Be FireSmart and ensure your campfire is safe, visit www.ontario.ca/fireprevention.

For more information about the current fire situation, visit www.ontario.ca/forestfire.

Report forest fires north of the French and Mattawa rivers by calling 310-FIRE (3473). In southern regions, forest fires can be reported by calling your local fire department.

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