Residents of Thunder Bay are learning that Forest fire UPDATE – August 5, 2026 –Aviation, Forest Fire and Critical incident Services confirmed three new wildland wildfires in Ontario’s Northwest Fire Region by the evening of Wednesday, August 5.
CDT, there were114 active wildland firesacross the region. Of those blazes, 17 were not under control, 10 were being held, three were under control and 84 were being observed. A Restricted Fire Zone remains in effect across the Northwest Region and a small portion of the Northeast Region due to high-to-extreme fire danger, increased fire activity and the number of active incidents.
Thunder Bay 75 is located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Shabaqua Corners, north of Athelstane Lake. The fire is 0.1 hectares and is being held. Fort Frances 60 is located approximately two kilometres west of the western perimeter of Fort Frances 14, near Byers Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
Dryden 36 is being held at1,710 hectares.
Nipigon 95 is burning along the eastern shore of Lake Nipigon on a peninsula near Humboldt Bay. The fire is 0.1 hectares and is not under control. The Rinker Lake Complex includes Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34 and Dryden 35. There are 15 wildland firefighting crews from Ontario and Alberta assigned to the complex, along with two 20-person crews from Mexico. Heavy-equipment operators, 16 helicopters, pilots, overhead personnel from Ontario and Québec, and an Incident Management Team are also supporting operations. Crews are patrolling fire areas, extinguishing hotspots, consolidating hose lines and installing and maintaining values-protection gear. Helipads are being constructed to improve access and allow gear and personnel to be moved into additional areas of the wildfires. Heavy-equipment operators continue to build fire guards along portions of the Lakehead region 36 and Dryden 35 perimeters. Helicopter bucketing operations are continuing where required. Thunder Bay 36 – THU036has been more accurately remapped at301,009 hectaresand remains not under control. Dryden 34 – DRY034has been more accurately remapped at45,800 hectaresand remains not under control. Dryden 35 – DRY035is currently31,510 hectaresand remains not under control. The Atikokan-area cluster includes Fort Frances 13, Fort Frances 14 and Fort Frances 15. Infrared scanning continues along sections of the fire perimeters, providing ground crews with hotspot locations to locate and extinguish. A 10-person firefighting crew from Prince Edward Island is being added to suppression operations. Crews continue to patrol the fire perimeters and establish hose lines. Helicopters are supporting ground crews by dropping water on isolated hotspots. Fort Frances 14 and Fort Frances 15 continue to show low fire behaviour and minimal growth. Operations staff are assessing priorities and opportunities for crews working on Fort Frances 13. Fort Frances 13 – FOR013is currently25,279 hectaresand remains not under control. Fort Frances 14 – FOR014is currently51,768 hectaresand remains not under control. Fort Frances 15 – FOR015is currently42,273 hectaresand remains not under control. Dryden 36 is being held at1,710 hectares. A fire classified as being held is not expected to spread beyond existing or predetermined control boundaries under current or forecast conditions, based on the suppression resources committed to the incident. Ontario FireRangers and firefighters from Mexico continue ground-suppression work with support from bucketing helicopters. Low fire behaviour has been observed in recent days under favourable weather conditions. This is expected to be the final update for Dryden 36 as a fire of note. Evacuation orders and alerts remain associated with several blazes in the Northwest Region. The evacuation alert for the Saganaga Lake area near Fort Frances 13 has been lifted. The alert was originally published by the Thunder Bay–Ignace District on July 24, 2026. Fort Frances 13 is also known as the Little Knife fire in Minnesota. Wildland fire suppression operations are continuing, but authorities say public safety worries associated with this fire no longer require the evacuation alert. Restrictions remain in effect around other active wildfires in the area. A Notice to Airmen remains in effect in the area of Thunder Bay 36. The NOTAM is in addition to the standard airspace restrictions imposed around active forest blazes under Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Airspace within five nautical miles of an active forest fire, up to 3,000 feet above ground level, is restricted to aircraft involved in fire-suppression operations. A NOTAM is also in effect near Fort Frances 14, northeast of Byers Lake. Pilots are reminded to check Nav Canada’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services under the Weather and NOTAM section before flying in affected areas. Unauthorized aircraft and drones can force waterbombers and helicopters to leave the area, delaying suppression operations and placing firefighters and flight crews at risk. The Ministry of Natural Resources implemented a Restricted Fire Zone at 12:01 a.m. area time on July 15. The restriction covers the Northwest Fire Region and a small portion of the Northeast Fire Region. The Restricted Fire Zone was introduced because of the high-to-extreme fire hazard, increased wildland fire activity, the regional fire load and the need to reduce human-caused wildfires. Residents and visitors should confirm which activities are prohibited before travelling, camping or working in forested areas. Ontario’s forest fire danger rating is calculated using information collected from more than 130 weather stations across the province’s fire regions. Conditions can change throughout the day as temperatures, humidity, wind and precipitation change. The newest fire hazard information, active fire locations, restrictions and incident updates are available through Ontario’s interactive forest fire map. To report a wildland fire north of the French and Mattawa rivers, call310-FIRE — 310-3473. To report a wildland fire south of the French or Mattawa rivers, call911. Residents are encouraged to follow Ontario’s forest fire information channels and monitor official crisis notices for updated evacuation orders, travel restrictions and public-safety information. Source:Aviation, Forest Fire and Crisis Services, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Report time:August 5, 2026, at 6:16 p.m.
Community members are encouraged to stay informed and share this information with friends and family. Following trusted local news sources helps ensure everyone stays up to date with events and announcements affecting Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.
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📍 Source: NetNewsLedger · By: NetNewsLedger Staff · 🗓️ August 06, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
