**MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY**

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN PARTS OF NORTH BAY, KIRKLAND LAKE, AND SUDBURY DISTRICTS DUE TO FOREST FIRES

Pursuant to the Emergency Area Order signed July 21, 2018, an Implementation Order has been issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry prohibiting access and travel in portions of North Bay, Kirkland Lake and Sudbury Districts where there are public safety hazards as a result of increased fire activity.

The Order restricts travel, access and use in an identified area (see attached map below) and may be modified regularly to reflect changing fire conditions.

This measure has been put in place to ensure public safety while allowing fire personnel to safely and effectively suppress the fires in the identified area. 

  • All travel and use of the following roads are prohibited:
    • McLaren’s Road
    • Gibbons Road
    • Baie-Jeanne Road
    • South Pardo Road
    • Beauty Lake Road
    • St. Joseph’s Road
    • George Gordon and Iron Lake Road
    • Cooke Lake Road
    • Liskeard Lumber Road
    • Klock Lake Road
    • Crane Lake Road
    • Roadhouse Tower Road
    • Indian Bay Road
    • Mountain Lake Road
    • Goulard Road starting at Lower Goose Falls
       
  • All modes of travel/access into Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Obabika River, Makobe-Grays River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks, and all Crown lands is prohibited.
  • Use of the Red Squirrel Lake Road beyond the Barmac Gate is prohibited.
  • All use and occupation of Crown land on or within 500 metres of all described closed roads is prohibited.

If a member of the public believes that access within the restricted travel area is necessary for non-recreational purposes, please call North Bay District at 705-475-5546 (8:30am to 4:30pm) or Kirkland Lake District at 705-568-3240 (8:30am to 4:30pm) to request a travel authorization permit.  For requesting access to Red Squirrel Lake Road, please call North Bay District. MNRF will review the request for access based on the rationale provided, local fire activity, and the potential fire risk.

See the restricted travel and access areas on this PDF map (Note: this map gets updated regularly).

 

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN PARTS OF PARRY SOUND AND SUDBURY DISTRICTS DUE TO FOREST FIRES

Pursuant to the Emergency Area Order signed July 21, 2018, an Implementation Order has been issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry prohibiting access and travel in portions of Parry Sound District where there are public safety hazards as a result of increased fire activity from Parry Sound #033.

The Order restricts travel, access and use in an identified area (see attached map below) and may be modified regularly to reflect changing fire conditions.

This measure has been put in place to ensure public safety while allowing fire personnel to safely and effectively suppress the fires in the identified area. 

  • All travel and use on the French River waterway, Pickerel River (West of Hwy 69/400), Henvey Inlet, Key River basin, and all associated tributaries that access these river systems, including all access from Georgian Bay, and all islands on Georgian Bay within the French River Provincial Park boundaries, Dokis Island system, and Puddick island and all islands north of Henvey Inlet near shore is prohibited.
  • All access roads west of Hwy 69/400, from Henvey Inlet north to the French River area are closed.

If a member of the public believes that access within the restricted travel area is necessary for non-recreational purposes, please call to 705-746-4201 to request a travel authorization permit.  MNRF will review the request for access based on the rationale provided, local fire activity, and the potential fire risk.

See the restricted travel and access areas on this PDF map (Note: this map gets updated regularly).

 

NORTHEAST REGION

Regional Fire Situation – July 23, 2018

By the evening of July 23 there were 55 active forest fires across the northeast. Of these, 21 are not yet under control, 34 are either being held, under control or being observed.

There was only one new start in the region today. Sudbury 92 located near Johnnie Lake in Killarney Provincial Park covers 0.1 of a hectare and is already under control.

Cochrane 14 saw significant fire activity today, it grew to 4,899 hectares. Values protection is underway in the area of this fire, which is not yet under control.

Parry Sound 33

Parry Sound 33 saw aerial fire suppression again today. CL415s dropped water on the fire which was remapped at 5,612 hectares. Three heavy helicopters bucketed water to reduce the fire’s intensity and coordinated with ground crews. Values protection continues.

In the interest of public safety, on July 21, 2018 the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)’s Parry Sound district recommended that the communities, municipalities and townships within the area below impose a mandatory evacuation of their residents with boat access only:

  • All areas ranging from the western and northern borders of French River Provincial Park, east to Highway 69, and as far south as the south shore of the Key River; including all residents and members of the public on both the north and south shores of the French River, and the Pickerel River, as well as Hartley Bay.

There is also a recommendation by the MNRF Parry Sound district to impose an evacuation alert to all residents within this area who have road access to their residences or cottages. These residents should be prepared to evacuate pending a change in the fire situation.

In addition, the MNRF’s Sudbury district has recommended that all residents along Hartley Bay Road be placed on an evacuation alert, pending changes to the fire situation.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Conservation Officers have been on site helping notify the public of the situation, and facilitating this evacuation.

Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) has also been advised by Ontario Parks that the French River Provincial Park is fully closed west of Highway 69/400. All campers have been or are being evacuated. Ontario Parks has also suspended permit sales for the French River Delta and Pickerel River areas and are restricting entry to park users (everything west of Highway 69/400).

Henvey Inlet First Nation declared a state of emergency as a precautionary measure.  As of July 22 the community has successfully and safely evacuated all of its community members, who are receiving accommodation and food.

For information about the fire situation: 705-564-6165

For media inquiries: 705-564-6156

For inquiries about French River Provincial Park restrictions: 705-857-1630 ext 224

For Parry Sound District information, including all calls related to the recommendation of these evacuations and alerts, call 705-773-4218.

For updates on highway conditions, including closures, please call 5-1-1.

Pembroke 5, 6, and 7

Pembroke 5, south of Grant’s Creek, is 37.5 hectares in size. Pembroke 6 and is burning at 697 hectares. Pembroke 7 runs parallel to Highway 17 and covers approximately 90 hectares. The status of these fires is still not under control.

Values protection continues. 

Incident Management Teams

Incident Management Teams (IMTs) are in place in the region. They are managing priority fires in three areas:

  • River Valley Cluster
  • Lake Temagami Cluster
  • Lady Evelyn Cluster

An IMT is also being assigned to Parry Sound 33 in the coming days.

River Valley Fire Cluster:

North Bay 62 and North Bay 42.  Both fires changed status to Being Held this afternoon.  We are monitoring North Bay 25.

There are 139 people working on these fires including fire fighters from Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Mexico. 

Fire behavior was relatively quiet today due to the rain, with some smoke, smouldering, and minimal open flame.  Fires received between 30 to 35 ml of precipitation.

Temagami Fire Cluster:

There are 45 firefighters, with 6 helicopters working on fires in the Temagami cluster.

Due to the rain received in the area, fire activity was reduced greatly on all fires within the Temagami Cluster. These conditions made for a great working day for firefighters, as they are able to get into hotspot areas safely. Crews continue to patrol and mop up: North Bay 55, 56, 68 and 69. Firefighters continue to monitor: North Bay 18, 19, 46, 47, 61 and action priority areas with heli-buckets.

Value protection systems remain on North Bay 55, 56, and 47.

North Bay 69, which previously caused the evacuation of twenty homes in the Temagami area, is now under control. Firefighters continue to focus on working their way deep into the interior of the fire to check for hot spots.

Lady Evelyn Fire Cluster:

The fire is now 27,579 hectares. 238 firefighters and support staff and 11 helicopters are assigned to North Bay 72. The team continues to observe North Bay 59.

Rain brought welcome relief to the fire today allowing crews to regroup from yesterday’s extreme day. The northeast portion of the fire received between 8 and 13 mm, the southwest portion received 25 to 31 mm and the northern portion between 11 and 20 mm of rain.

Crews will continue to work hose lines on the perimeter of the fire.

Sprinklers continue to run on values on Mendelssohn Lake, Skull Lake and Cook Lake.

We currently have firefighters from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories and Mexico.

Resources From Out of Province

  • Ontario is receiving support from across Canada, the United States and Mexico to assist with the fire situation.
    • Alberta is providing personnel, equipment and aircraft.
    • British Columbia is providing personnel and equipment.
    • Newfoundland is providing personnel and equipment.
    • Northwest Territories is providing personnel, equipment and aircraft.
    • Nova Scotia is providing personnel and equipment.
    • Prince Edward Island is providing personnel.
    • Saskatchewan is providing personnel and aircraft.
    • Minnesota is providing personnel.
    • Wisconsin, USA, is providing personnel.
    • Mexico is providing personnel.

SMOKE CONCERNS

  • Many Ontario residents have reported smoke drift in their communities. Smoky conditions are expected to continue as a number of fires remain active throughout the northeast region until weather patterns and fire activity change.
  • AFFES is reminding the public that if they do see flames or smoke, please report it, and stay away from the area in the interest of public safety.
  • If you have questions or concerns about smoke and your health, please contact Tele Health Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

FIRE NUMBERS AND ONLINE INFORMATION:

  • To report a forest fire located north of the French and Mattawa rivers, please dial 310-FIRE (3473)
  • To report a forest fire located south of the French or Mattawa rivers, please dial 911.
  • Follow us on Twitter: in English @ONForestFires or in French @ONFeuDeForêt
  • For up to date information on current fires in the province or to check the forest fire hazard in your area, visit Ontario.ca/forestfire

 

RESTRICTED FIRE ZONE DECLARED IN THE NORTHEAST REGION
Due to the extreme fire hazard and the large number of wildfires burning, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has expanded the Restricted Fire Zone in effect to include some areas of the Southern Region. The new zone includes areas north of the community of Rosseau, northwest to Caramat, over to the Quebec border along Hwy 11 (to north of Abitibi Canyon) and southeast to Renfrew. To check out more specific boundaries, consult the interactive fire map.

During a Restricted Fire Zone, the use of open fires – such as campfires, or burning of brush or debris, is restricted. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $25,000 and three months in jail, as well as financial responsibility for the costs incurred in fighting a forest fire.

Portable gas or propane stoves are permitted for use for cooking or warmth, though they should be closely monitored. Portable charcoal BBQs and Hibachis are not permitted unless within 100 metres of a dwelling, or within an organized campground.

Commercial campground operators may allow their guests to enjoy campfires during a Restricted Fire Zone period provided they meet certain conditions.

The Restricted Fire Zone is a temporary measure to reduce the number of new human-caused wildfires as the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services branch of the OMNRF expects the elevated forest fire hazard to continue into the foreseeable future.

The forest fire hazard is expected to be generally moderate to high across the Northeast tomorrow.