An aerial view of the Kenora 51 fire, which is burning in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. As of Thursday, the fire was about 136,000 hectares, and not under control. Photo: Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry/Provided

From CBC News · Thunder Bay - July 22, 2021 

Air quality statements have been issued for parts of northwestern Ontario as more than 160 fires burn in the region.

Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said the fire hazard remains high to extreme in the eastern parts of the region, as well as areas of the Red Lake, Dryden, and Sioux Lookout districts, while the hazard is low to moderate in the southwestern parts of the region and the far north.

Recent rainfall has slowed some of the region's larger fires, including Red Lake 65, which is burning about 7 kilometres northwest of Poplar Hill First Nation; the community has been evacuated.

Fire suppression efforts on Red Lake 51 also benefited from recent rainfall, AFFES said. The fire is currently about 51,000 hectares and burning about 24 kilometres west of Deer Lake First Nation, which has also been evacuated.

AFFES said drier and warmer conditions are expected to return this week in the areas of both of those fires, however, which will likely lead to more active fire behaviour.

Elsewhere in the region, Sioux Lookout 60 is about 850 hectares, and located eight kilometres west of Cat Lake First Nation, which is being partially evacuated.

Red Lake 77, which was listed as being about 23,000 hectares on Thursday morning, is located about 28 kilometres northwest of Madsen, and 33 kilometres west of Red Lake, although AFFES said the fire has not moved "significantly" closer to the community in recent days.

Kenora 51, meanwhile, continues to burn in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. The fire is about 136,000 hectares and not under control.

Environment Canada issued air quality statements due to forest fire smoke for the Atikokan, Dryden, Ignace, Fort Frances, Kenora, Red Lake, Pikangikum and Sioux Lookout areas on Thursday.

A restricted fire zone remains in effect in the Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden and Thunder Bay districts, and portions of the Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Nipigon districts. Outdoor burning is prohibited in those areas.

Last week, the province issued an emergency order for northwestern Ontario, which allows Ontario to take special measures "to ensure the safety of people and the protection of critical property."

Earlier this week, the province announced it's implementing new restrictions on certain mining, rail, construction and transportation operations that have the potential to cause sparks and start fires; the restrictions apply to certain specific drilling operations, using heavy machinery with rubber tires and no chains, and rail production grinding, in the region.

It marks the second time the province has announced restrictions for the northwest under the emergency order. On Monday, the province announced restrictions on the use of mechanized equipment and power saws to harvest or process wood, as well as welding, torching and grinding.

The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

To see the original story and read more wildfire reporting in Ontario, follow this link to the CBC Thunder Bay website.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/forest-fire-update-1.6112543