DRYDEN — Firefighters with the Ministry of Natural Resources continue their efforts to knock down a fire burning relatively close to the remote community of Eabametoong First Nation.
The fire was discovered late Sunday afternoon about 28 kilometres northwest of the community and five kilometres east of Ferguson Lake.
By the end of the day Tuesday, it was reported to have burned an area of 211 hectares.
At 4 p,.m. EDT Wednesday, it had not spread any farther, but was still listed as not under control.
The ministry currently has eight fire ranger crews and two helicopters deployed on the blaze.
On Monday, it also had waterbombers flying out of Geraldton to attack the fire when its behaviour was more intense.
Those aircraft remain available as needed, an MNR spokesperson said Wednesday.
Eabametoong band councillor Derek Atlookan said Tuesday there was no current plan to evacuate the community despite some speculation among residents.
"It's just the rumour mill, I think . . . Right now, I think, they're controlling it. As far as I know, that's as much as I can say."
The MNR has not indicated if it has determined how the fire started.
The spokesperson said every fire's origin is investigated, but the results for this one are not yet available.
As of Tuesday evening, it remained the largest among the four active wildland fires in Northwestern Ontario.
But according to the ministry, if weather forecasts Wednesday afternoon prove accurate, conditions will likely remain favourable for the firefighters working to contain it.
