(CU)_Heat warnings issued by Environment Canada in north-western Ontario continued through Thursday (19 August), as 101 forest fires burned in the east-central province. According to Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES), a restricted fire zone remains in effect in a selected number of districts, including Kenora, Dryden, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, and certain parts of Sioux Lookout and Red Lake districts. From these areas, larger fires were reported from Kenora 51, Red Lake 65, Red Lake 51 and Red Lake 77.
According to the forest fire management service, the Kenora 51 fire, at about 200,600 hectares, is larger than the 10-year average of forest fires burned in in Ontario to date. Smoke triggered by the weather conditions in the region prompted Environment Canada to issue special air quality statements for Quetico, Atikokan and Upsala areas on Thursday.
The government agency also issued rainfall warnings for the Webequie and Pickle Lake areas, noting that up to 50 mm of rain could fall in those regions, while severe thunderstorms are expected in Pikangikum.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away from Ontario, forest fires were also reported from the province of British Columbia, where wildfire crews on Vancouver Island were on ground through Thursday night battling a new blaze less than 5 kilometres northwest of Ladysmith.
According to Gordon Robinson, the fire information officer of the BC Wildfire Service, hot dry weather and gusty winds caused the fire to grow to 20 hectares in size on Thursday night, from just two hectares that afternoon. He further noted that crew were on alert owing to the fire’s proximity to the city, although no structures were immediately threatened.
Meanwhile, a contract crew and ten firefighters were working the fire with the support of four helicopters, some heavy equipment and air tankers.
