Ontario assists Alberta in wildfire battles

Ontario’s slow start to the forest fire season is Alberta’s gain as 45 fire fighting personnel from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have taken off to help battle the more than 100 wild fires across that province.

Fire Information Officer Alison Bezubiak says a majority of those sent are fire rangers stationed from across the province.

“We know the situation out there in Alberta is very serious and we’re committed to helping as much as we can while we maintain the capacity to respond to any new fires that might pop up here in Ontario.”

But based upon current conditions those fires could be few and far between.

“Assisted by that recent rain that we got over the weekend, our staffing and resources remain adequate for the current hazard and fire load.”

The fire hazard in the more northern areas of the region are listed as moderate to high.

Meanwhile the areas surrounding Kenora, Fort Frances, and Dryden, which a week ago was listed as high, has dropped considerably joining Thunder Bay, which has stayed in the low range.

Currently there is one active wildland fire, Kenora 5, located northwest of Kenora.

That fire is listed as under control at 0.3 hectares.