For the first time in a week, and despite cool, wet weather in many parts of northeastern Ontario, fire officials say two new wildfires were confirmed today.
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services for the Northeast Fire Region said the fires are:
- Sudbury 43, which was confirmed this afternoon. It was a 0.1 hectare fire on the north end of Lovering Lake, about 2 km east of Hwy 69. It is now out.
- Hearst 16, which was confirmed this afternoon. It is a 1.5 hectare fire 3 km north of McKnight Lake and 6 km northwest of Richter Lake. It is not under control.
There are currently 34 active wildland fires in the Northeast Region. Of these, one is not under control, four are under control and 29 are being observed, the AFFES said.
In total there were 63 active wildfires in northern Ontario, when looking at both northeast and northwest, as of midday today.
The wildland fire hazard varies across the Northeast Region today, from low to high. For a closer look at fire hazard conditions, view this interactive map.
In the meantime, as fires rage out west and put lives and property at risk, fire officials in Ontario have been encouraging property owners to ensure any buildings on their property are "fire smart".
Is your house or cottage surrounded by trees that are just a couple of metres away? Do you have firewood stacked up against an exterior wall?
Keeping the space around a home free of any flammable materials is the key to preventing your home from being vulnerable in the event of a forest fire, according to the organization Fire Smart Canada.
You can take their Home Ignition Zone Self-Assessment at this link.
How vulnerable is your home and property to wildland fire? And how can you increase your resiliency? The Home Ignition Zone Self-Assessment is a great way to learn the answers to these questions to pinpoint next steps toward wildland fire preparedness: https://t.co/IZcgrxNEka pic.twitter.com/qbI3WvPZYB
— FireSmart Canada (@FireSmartCanada) August 18, 2023