THUNDER BAY — There are 139 active wildfires burning in northwestern Ontario, with 30 listed as not under control, according to the latest update from theMinistry of Natural Resources.
The ministry alsoreported on Thursdaythat pressure has seemed to have eased a bit, noting how "minimal fire behaviour has been observed in recent days." A newevacuation alertwas issued on Friday morning in theSaganaga Lake areaby the Thunder Bay-Ignace District due to the evolving situation and increased fire behaviour ofFort Frances 13. Ontario Forest Fires strongly encourages people residing in or utilizing the area near the fire to prepare to evacuate on short notice by taking the following steps: The largest wildfire in the region, known as the northwestern Ontario hub 36, also remains out of control and spans more than 315,000 hectares. The Ministry of Natural Resources stated the Thunder Bay–Ignace Districthas invoked an implementation orderfor areas near Dryden 36 for the purposes of public safety and fire suppression.
An implementation order allows the ministry to issue formal,legally bindingorders that restrict activities and manage access inside critical incident boundaries. "Even when fire behaviour looks minimal, large wildland fires may remain classified as NUC [not under control] for longer because it takes time to ensure the entire perimeter is contained," the ministry noted on Thursday. "We advise the public to stay clear of all active fires in their area. Doing so will interfere with ongoing suppression efforts and could put FireRangers and aircraft at risk." The Pan Canadian Aerial Asset Program managed by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre have sent two Q400 airtankers and a birddog to help in the region.
Of these, two are not under control, one is being held, four are under control and the rest are being observed.
Six AT-802 aircraft and a crew of 12 were also mobilized from Alberta to support wildland fire suppression efforts. As of Friday, forest fire danger ratings have progressed to high across large areas of the northwest, contrasting to the mostly low or moderate ratings seen throughout the region earlier in the week. There are also pockets of extreme hazard within the District of Rainy River and near Deer Lake. According to the province'sinteractive highway map, the closure of Highway 527 at Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek — Gull Bay First Nation — remains in effect and is still extended to the Highway 811 junction. Highway 811 is also closed due to ongoing wildfire activity, with the exception of neighborhood traffic evacuating the area. The First Nation remains under a mandatory evacuation order after lightning brought the total number of wildfires surrounding the area to six, according to a release issued by the local residents early Tuesday morning. The Ontario Provincial Officers (OPP) urge people for their safety and the safety of crisis responders to: There are 40 active wildfires in the northeast region as of the evening. Of these, two are not under control, one is being held, four are under control and the rest are being observed. Forest fire danger ratings are mostly low to moderate across the northeast, with a pocket of high hazard in the Greater Sudbury area. There are now more than 2,800 wildfire evacuees from more than a dozen communities across the province, according to an update issued by Ontario's Minister of Urgent response Preparedness and Response, Jill Dunlop,late Wednesday afternoon. There have been four Ontario Corps partners and 17 Ontario Corps volunteers sent to help. As well, the province says the following equipment/supplies have been provided: As part of these efforts, Feed Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres are shipping and distributing food to evacuees. GlobalMedic has also delivered essential supplies to the evacuation reception centre at the Fort William Gardens Arena in Thunder Bay. In addition, the Kaministiquia and Upsala fire departments were among some regional fire services to receive wildland fire skids from GlobalMedic. The Community of the Lakehead has moved from active urgent situation co-ordination to enhanced monitoring. "Wildfire conditions across northwestern Ontario remain serious but stable. and no new evacuations are anticipated at this time," the community saidin an update late Wednesday afternoon. How to reduce wildfire risk and the likelihood of property damage in Thunder Bay, Ont. Residents are encouraged to take steps to reduce wildfire risk around their homes and properties by following FireSmart principles, including: More information about FireSmart practices is available atwww.firesmartcanada.ca. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onCBC Gem..
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📍 Source: CBC News Thunder Bay · By: CBC News Staff · 🗓️ July 24, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
