Smoke in Sioux Lookout on August 15, 2023 (Listener submitted photo)
Several new wildfires have been discovered in Northwest Ontario as conditions remain dangerous and smoke continues to affect nearby communities.
As of Saturday evening, three new fires were confirmed: Nipigon 6 near Petawanga Lake, Nipigon 7 northwest of Troutfly Lake, and Thunder Bay 14 near Hay Lake. All remain uncontrolled.
There are now 14 active wildfires in the region, and the fire danger is still rated high to extreme. Smoke has triggered air quality warnings for Kenora, Fort Frances, Sioux Narrows, Dryden, and Fort Hope.
Evacuations are underway in Webequie First Nation due to the nearby Nipigon 5 fire. About 400 residents are being flown to Barrie, Ont. Deer Lake First Nation has also fully evacuated as Red Lake 12—part of the Kenora 34 complex—continues to approach the community.
Travel restrictions and a Restricted Fire Zone remain in effect across large parts of the Northwest Region.
For up-to-date information, residents are encouraged to check the province’s interactive forest fire map.
