Tinder dry conditions persist in area

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

***************************** The forest fire situation continues to be very active both with existing fires and new ones being discovered.

There were three new fires in the province yesterday.

There are currently 112 active fires burning over 582,912 hectares.

Approximately 26,000 lightning have occurred across north western Ontario over the past two days so we expect additional lightning fires will be discovered over the next several days.

The long range weather forecast calls for warmer than normal days for the next 6-weeks, with a period of drier than normal conditions for the next 2-weeks over the northwest.

This will challenge fire fighting over the weekend.

There remain over 2,000 fire personnel and over 100 aircraft engaged in fire suppression.

Ontario appreciates the support of resources from other parts of Canada.

Over 500 firefighters, equipment and aircraft have been brought in from almost every province and one territory as well as Parks Canada to assist Ontario firefighting efforts.

Forty staff have also come from the United States.

New fires

No new fires were reported on August 4.

Two new fires were reported by the evening of August 5.

- Cochrane 19 - human caused - being held - 0.1 hectares - west of Lake Abitibi

- North Bay 42 - undetermined cause - not under control - 1.0 hectares - west of New Liskeard

Active fires

There are an additional seven active fires in the region.

- Cochrane 6 - lightning caused - being observed - 500.0 hectares - 63 kilometers southwest of Kashechewan

- Cochrane 13 - lightning caused - being observed - 600.0 hectares - 30 kilometres southeast of Peawanuck

- Cochrane 15 - lightning caused - being observed - 50.0 hectares - west of Attawapiskat

- Cochrane 17 - lightning caused - being observed - 200.0 hectares - 43 kilometers southwest of Fort Albany

- Cochrane 18 - lightning caused - being observed - 8.0 hectares - 44 kilometers south of Fort Albany

- North Bay 38 - lightning caused - under control - 0.8 hectares - northwest of Silver Lake

- North Bay 41 - human caused - under control - 0.6 hectares - north of River Valley

Map of current fires in Ontario.

Fire hazard

The fire hazard is moderate in the northern half of the region since it is under mainly sunny skies.

The hazard drops to low in the southern half of the region due to increased precipitation.

*****************************