Kenora firefighters ready to assist as wildfires continue to affect parts of northwestern Ontario

As parts of northwestern Ontario continue to be impacted by wildfires, the fire chief for the City of Kenora is assuring people that no effort will be spared to keep them safe.

"We're in good hands. We're fortunate enough in the north that we have resources close by with the MNR [Ministry of Natural Resources] and the province of Ontario," Gord Howard told CBC News Thursday afternoon.

"They have analysis and data and different metrics to make decisions on hazard areas and evacuations and those types of things," Howard said. 

"So, I would say, people can rest easy knowing that there's a lot of people working very hard to make sure that residents across the northwest are safe and across the province are safe," he added.

Howard said, while his unit is not actively engaged in fighting the wildfires, they are in constant communication with all the agencies at play and are ready to jump into action if  needed.

Howard is reminding people to listen to the information that comes from the city as well as the Ministry of Natural Resources and the province, and not to rely on "less reputable sources."

13 active wildfires in the northwest region

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, there are currently 13 active wildfires in the northwest region in various stages of control. Of those fires, two are under control, three are being held, one is being observed and seven are not under control. Four fires have been put out over the past 24 hours. As of 3 p.m. CT on Thursday, there has been one new fire confirmed in the northwest region, the ministry said.

Earlier on Thursday, the MNR  gave notice that it will declare a restricted fire zone effective Friday at 12:01 a.m. until further notice for a portion of the Northwest Region (Zones 2, 3, 6, 7, 8).

The complete fire ban includes areas between the U.S. and Manitoba borders to Atikokan, and north to Pickle Lake.

The notice said no open air burning, including campfires, is permitted within the boundaries of a Restricted Fire Zone.  Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth but must be handled with extreme caution.  All burning permits are suspended.

The forest fire situation began to escalate in northwestern Ontario last week, as much of the region experienced dry and hot conditions.

The weather forecast has about 15 to 20 mm of rain expected across parts of the region over the next two days. A fire official said if the rainfall materializes, it will help moderate the extreme fire behaviour in the region. 

Evacuee worried about dogs, personal effects left behind

Audrey Mandamin was among the community members of the Wabaseemoong First Nation who had to leave their homes after the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry established an evacuation order and travel access restrictions to areas near the Kenora 20 and Kenora 14 fires on Tuesday. 

She and her son put some essentials together and left as soon as they could, Mandamin said, but she was unable to take her dogs along. 

"I'm just worried about my dogs [three German Shepherds] that are at home right now. We couldn't bring them in because they get carsick really bad and we had to leave them at home," Mandamin told CBC Thunder Bay.  

She said there are a few people in the community who are feeding and giving the dogs water, but "just knowing that they're at home, [while] the fire is just so close to the reserve [is troubling]."

Mandamin, who said this is her third time being evacuated because of forest fires, said she's also worried about some of the items she's had to leave behind, like pictures of her "children who had passed before."

"Some of my medication is at home and I'm just getting by with what I have, but I'm glad that I'm in Kenora, I have family in Kenora," she said.

'Some moisture in the air'

Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said there's currently "some moisture in the air" with showers expected Thursday and Friday.

"Showers today could bring amounts of up to 30 mm for areas that get hit by a thunderstorm [and] showers are expected overnight as well," Kidd told CBC News. 

"Tomorrow is going to be another wet day, which is good news for forest fires. Tomorrow we could be seeing areas getting up to 35 mm again and then … maybe lasting a little longer."

Kidd noted that while it's been very warm in the northwest, temperatures will "diminish to more seasonal temperatures by tomorrow."

"Tomorrow we've got a high of 16 [C] and then it really goes down for Saturday. We've got winds from the north bringing in that cooler air and we remain at or below seasonal for pretty much the remainder of the month, give or take," Kidd said.