THUNDER BAY -- There are more than 100 forest fires currently burning in Northwestern Ontario.
According to Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, 15 new forest fires were detected in the region by Saturday afternoon, bringing the confirmed count to 102.
Six of the new fires are in the Red Lake area, all of which are deemed not under control. The community is at the ready to evacuate if necessary.
Three First Nations, Deer Lake, Poplar Hills and Pikangikum, have evacuated 2,000 residents as a result of fires in the North.
Red Lake 65, which is at 12,325 hectares and just seven kilometres northwest of Poplar Hills, is acting to aggressively to be safely put out by ground crews, who are looking for ways to bring the fire to natural boundaries.
Red Lake 51 is of particular concern to Deer Lake First Nation. It's nearly four times the size of Red Lake 65, but is 24 kilometres from the community.
It too is acting aggressively and crews are focused on protecting the community and its critical infrastructure.
Red Lake 77 is the fire threatening Red Lake and is not under control at 17,120 hectares, located about 36 kilometres west of the town. Water bombers and helicopters have been brought in to deal with the seven new fire starts and crews are working alongside municipal firefighters to protect the community and its infrastructure.
Another fire of note, Kenora 51, is not under control and has been remapped to 90,134 hectares. Thirteen crews and 12 helicopters are assigned to the fire.
As a result of all the fire activity in the Red Lake District, an implementation order is in effect that restricts access to and use of certain roads and Crown lands.
A restricted fire zone has been put into place in Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden and Thunder Bay districts, as well as portions of Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Nipigon and Wawa districts.
