More than 2,000 personnel currently battling Ontario fires

NES RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

*************************** There were 11 new fires in the province yesterday, four in the northwest and seven in the east of the province.

There are currently 117 active fires burning over 533,000 hectares.

Cloud, high humidity and precipitation kept fire behaviour low on many fires which will continue over the weekend in the Northwest Region.

Additional lightning fires may be discovered in some areas once conditions become dry again.

Winds will be easterly today in the northwest and smoke issues should be reduced throughout the region.

Fire teams continue to work closely with affected communities.

There remain over 2,000 fire personnel engaged on Ontario fires.

There are 645 from other parts of Canada including British Columbia, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, and Newfoundland/ Labrador.

Current firefighting equipment includes 17 heavy bombers, four light bombers, over 100 helicopters and other.

A restricted fire zone continues to be implemented on the north western regions of the province.

More information on restricted fire zones is available at current restricted fire zones in Ontario

Seven new fires were reported on Friday, July 22.

- Hearst 6 - lightning caused fire - being held - 9.0 hectares - 45 kilometres north of Kapuskasing

- Bancroft 3 - lightning caused - under control - 2.0 hectares - west of Bon Echo Provincial Park

- Parry Sound 8 – undetermined cause - being held - 1.6 hectares - west of Restoule

- North Bay 27 - lightning caused - out - 0.1 hectares - 39 kilometres northeast of Lake Wanapitei

- Sudbury 38 - human caused – out - 0.1 hectares - Johnny Lake area, off Highway 637

- Sudbury 39 - lightning caused - under control - 1.2 hectares - French River Provincial Park

- Wawa 21 - lightning caused - out - 0.2 hectares - southeast of Caramat

Three new fires were reported by the evening of July 23. 

There are no issues anticipated with any of the new fires.

- North Bay 28 - lightning caused - not under control - 0.5 hectares - southwest of Temagami

- North Bay 29 - lightning caused - not under control - 0.2 hectares - west of Gull Lake

- Sudbury 40 - undetermined cause - out - 0.1 hectares - east of Estaire

Smoke from fires burning in the Northwest Region may still be affecting some communities in the Northeast Region depending on wind speed and direction.

The fire hazard is moderate to high in the southern half of the region and moderate in the northern portion of the region.

Areas in the south will continue to see new lightning and human caused fires for the next several days.

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