VIDEO: Mexican firefighters help battle Northern Ontario blazes

Extra help has landed for crews battling forest fires in Northern Ontario. 

No new forest fires were confirmed in the northeast as of yesterday evening (June 19), however there are still 20 active fires in the region, says Aviation, Forest Fires and Emergency Services (AFFES) in its daily forest fire update. 

The forest fire season in Ontario is above the 10-year average. So far in 2023, there have been 276 fires. For the same period in 2022, there were 87 fires. The 10-year average is 203 fires.

On Sunday, over 100 Mexican firefighters landed in Thunder Bay to support FireRangers in the northwest and northeast regions, says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Over 100 Mexican firefighters arrived in Thunder Bay yesterday afternoon to support our FireRangers. Once they have received their provincial briefing they will be assigned to fires in the Northwest and Northeast Regions. Welcome to the team, we appreciate your service! @CIFFC pic.twitter.com/T1N9nf4DJe

— Ontario Forest Fires (@ONforestfires) June 20, 2023

The most recent confirmed fire — Cochrane 14  — started on the evening of June 18. It is 0.3 hectares in size and under control. 

Other fires of note that aren't under control, according to the AFFES, are: 

• Chapleau 3 was confirmed on June 1. It is 3,916 hectares and located 2 kilometres south of October Lake and 2.5 kilometres west of Vichaw Lake.
• Chapleau 6 was confirmed on June 4. It 1,228 hectares and located 2.5 kilometres west of Morin Lake and 1 kilometre east of Bolkow Lake. 
• Cochrane 6 was confirmed June 2. It 1,239 hectares and located 9 kilometres west of Lake Abitibi and 1 kilometre east of Marathon Lake. It is holding along cat guards, roads, and natural boundaries.
• Cochrane 7 was confirmed on June 2. It is 10,719 hectares and located northeast of Lake Abitibi and 7 kilometres southwest of Joe Lake. Heavy equipment continues to be utilized to aid in suppression efforts.

There are 52 active wildland fires in the province on Tuesday morning. Here is a clip of the fire behavior exhibited by #Cochrane 7 northeast of Lake Abitibi yesterday afternoon. (Provided by Chad Porter, Fire Operations Technician from the Cochrane Fire Management Headquarters) pic.twitter.com/8SWIlnbQsZ

— Ontario Forest Fires (@ONforestfires) June 20, 2023

• Kirkland Lake 5 was confirmed on June 7. It is 2,300 hectares and located north of Lady Evelyn Lake. Helicopters have been assigned to the fire. 
• Sudbury 10 was confirmed on June 2. It has been remapped to 1,370 hectares and is located 3 kilometres west of Fox Lake and 5 kilometres east of Acheson Lake. 
• Sudbury 17 was confirmed June 4. It is 5,857 hectares and located 3 kilometres west of Madawanson Lake and 0.5 kilometres east of Pilot Lake. Multiple crews are committed to the fire.

Timmins 7 was confirmed on June 4 and is now being held. It is a 149-hectare fire located 0.3 kilometres northeast of Ahsine Lake. Crews are working on the east flank of the fire, says AFFES.

Wawa 3 was confirmed on May 27 and is being held. It is 6,678 hectares and located south of Trent Lake and Round Lake, and 5 kilometres northwest of Duffy Lake.

Smoke from fires in northwestern Ontario and Quebec is still impacting the air quality in the Timmins area. 

The fire risk in Timmins is high, with areas to the north of the city having an extreme rating. A fire ban remains in effect and prevents any open-air burning.