**MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND FORESTRY NEWS RELEASE**

TRAVEL BAN IN PARTS OF NORTH BAY DISTRICT DUE TO FOREST FIRES

We issued an Emergency Area Order (EAO) for parts of the North Bay District due to active fires around Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Lake Temagami and the North Bay District (NOR#062).

The restrictions include:

  • All travel and use of McLaren’s Road, Gibbons Road, Baie-Jeanne Road, South Pardo Road, St. Joseph’s Road including George Gordon and Iron Lake Road, Cooke Lake Road, Beauty Lake Road, Klock Road, Roadhouse Tower Road, Mountain Lake Road, Goulard Road starting at Lower Goose Falls as outlined in the identified area on the attached Implementation Order map within the EAO is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
  • All modes of travel/access into Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Obabika River, Makobe-Grays River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks and all Crown lands as outlined in the identified area on the attached Implementation Order map within the EAO is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District of the MNRF.
  • Use of the Red Squirrel Lake Road beyond the Barmac Gate as outlined on the attached Implementation Order map is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District of the MNRF.
  • All use and occupation of Crown Land or within 500 metres of the described closed roads in items 1, 2 & 3 above, within this area is prohibited.

See the restricted areas on this PDF map.  (Note: this map gets updated regularly and the link to the pdf file will change.)

We issued the Emergency Area Order to help maintain public safety and to allow authorities to suppress the fire. 

These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.  Stay safe!

NORTHEAST REGION

Regional Fire Situation – July 12, 2018

On the evening of July 12, there are 66 active forest fires in the Northeast region. Of these, 26 are not yet under control, while 40 are either being held, under control or being observed.

There were 7 new starts in the Northeast today, one of which was extinguished. Our fire crews were able to extinguish 9 fires in total.

Relative humidity will rise throughout the day tomorrow (rain or not), effectively reducing the fire activity and allowing for crews to get established. Some precipitation was noted on the west portion of the region, but we’re forecasting scattered and minimal precipitation in the priority fire areas. There is a risk of thunderstorms over the next 12 to 24 hours, which could bring more lightning fires. Since June 29th, which was the Friday before the Canada Day long weekend, we have recorded over 165,000 lightning strikes across the Ontario. We expect to continue to find several new starts as a result over the coming week.

Values protection teams have been actively working in the area of Speight and Auld Townships again today, as a precautionary measure.

Timmins 12 is a 25 hectare forest fire which is located approximately 25 km east of Nighthawk Lake. Four CL415 waterbombers and 4 fire crews are working to suppress this fire.

Incident Management Teams

Incident Management Teams (IMTs) have mobilized in the region and are taking over priority fires in 3 areas:

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

Resources from Out of Province

  • Fire crews from Alberta and British Columbia arrived in Ontario on Monday, July 9 to assist with the fire situation. Fifteen 3 person crews from British Columbia and ten 4 person crews from Alberta have been deployed to priority fires on July 10.
  • CL415 water bombers and T802 Fire Boss amphibian equipment from Alberta and Saskatchewan are currently supporting Ontario’s fire suppression operations.
  • Additional personnel have arrived from Alberta this morning in the form of five 4 person initial attack crews and a 19 person Incident Management Team as well as 8 support staff

The following crews arrived later in the day to join Ontario FireRangers in the Northeast region tomorrow.

  • Nova Scotia has supplied five 4 person crews
  • Prince Edward Island has supplied a 4 person crew
  • Newfoundland has supplied a 4 person crew
  • British-Columbia has supplied five more 3 person crews
  • Northwest Territories has supplied six 4 person crews
  • Saskatchewan has supplied two support staff

SMOKE CONCERNS

  • Smoke around the Tri-Towns, Elk Lake, Earlton, Kenabeec, Kerns and surrounding areas may be heavy tonight.
  • 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.

Temagami area information

The MNRF has been advised by the Municipality of Temagami that the Mandatory Evacuation Orders from Temagami Shores, at the south edge of the town of Temagami, to Jessie Lake including Bell Island on Lake Temagami have been downgraded to an Evacuation Alert. Residents may return home however, must remain on alert as they can be asked to leave again at any time based on the fire situation. Other Evacuation Alerts remain in place.

Travel Restrictions

MNRF issued an Emergency Area Order (EAO) for parts of the North Bay District due to active fires around Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Lake Temagami and the North Bay District.

The restrictions include:

  • All travel and use of McLaren’s Road, Gibbons Road, Baie-Jeanne Road, South Pardo Road, St. Joseph’s Road including George Gordon and Iron Lake Road, Cooke Lake Road, Beauty Lake Road, Roadhouse Tower Road, Mountain Lake Road, Klock Road, Goulard Road starting at Lower Goose Falls is restricted as well as Red Squirrel Lake Road beyond the Barmac Gate is prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the North Bay District of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
  • All modes of travel/access into closed backcountry parks (Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Obabika River, Makobe-Grays River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks) and all Crown lands as outlined in the identified area on the Implementation Order map is prohibited.
  • All use and occupation of Crown land or within 500 metres of the described closed roads on the map.
  • Please visit Ontario.ca/forestfire as this information is being updated regularly.

For information about these travel restrictions: 705-475-5546 

For media inquiries contact: 705-564-6146

For inquiries by members of the public contact: 705-564-6165

For inquiries on highway closures: Call 5-1-1

Restricted Fire Zone declared in Northeast Region
Due to the extreme fire hazard, several recent periods of heavy lightning and the large number of wildfires burning, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has implemented a Restricted Fire Zone in some areas of Northeastern Ontario as outlined on 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 high to extreme across the Northeast tomorrow.