A forest fire burning out of control near the Ontario-Manitoba border doubled in size on Friday afternoon but it’s coming no closer to the evacuated community of Ingolf.
Kenora Fire 18 grew from 250 hectares on Thursday to 300 hectares by 2 p.m. Friday but then expanded to 600 hectares by 6 p.m.
It’s still burning five kilometres northwest of Ingolf, whose 100 members were evacuated on Thursday. High winds have carried the fire to the northeast.
Ministry of Natural Resources fire information officer Jonathan Scott said wind and extremely dry land have been fueling the blaze.
“It has definitely been the wind gusts up to 65 kilometres-per-hour that are spreading the fire," Scott said.
The fire hazard is high where the fire is burning so the fire’s behavior will be very intense, especially with projected winds for the day, which are high,” he said.
The MNR has now evacuating residents of Tannis and Gundy lakes.
An Emergency Area Order, which allows the ministry to restrict access and travel, has been declared north of Highway 17, with Minaki at its eastern point, the CN Rail line to its north and the border at its west.
Three CL 415 class water bombers have been dispatched to soak the fire. Crews are currently placing water sprinklers on “values” such as private property and committed forestry operations in the area of Rice, Florence and Makara lakes.
The fire's smoke has landed on Kenora. According to Dryden High School teacher Paul Darling, smoke was responsible for the cancellation of Friday's soccer tournament at Beaver Brae Secondary School.
Smoke in the area is strengthened due to a 13,000-hectare fire in Woodland Caribou National Park, further north along the Ontario-Manitoba border.
