Fire Rangers - (Photo supplied by MNR)
Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources has lifted the Restricted Fire Zone over northwestern Ontario.
The no-burn area was in place from the Manitoba border through to Nipigon from west to east, before it was removed on Friday morning.
The MNR implemented the zone on May 16, west of Thunder Bay, due to extreme forest fire hazard conditions in the region and to reduce the number of human-caused fires.
The zone was expanded into Thunder Bay and east towards Nipigon on May 30.
“Restricted Fire Zones decisions consider a number of factors including daily weather and fire conditions, as well as forecasted weather trends over longer periods of time and potential drying conditions and precipitation,” said the Ministry in an update. “The ministry also considers the number of wildland fires that are burning, and the number of resources required to manage both current and potential wildland fires.”
“Lifting the RFZ does not mean we can let our guard down when it comes to preventing human-caused fires. We all need to remain vigilant and keep safety top of mind when having outdoor fires.”
When a fire ban is in place, there are multiple restrictions.
No open-air burning, including campfires, is permitted within the boundaries of a Restricted Fire Zone.
All burning permits are also suspended.
“It is important to remember that the overall fire danger can change rapidly based on the daily weather resulting in low to moderate fire hazard one day, followed by high to extreme the next simply based on the surface forest fuels drying out quickly, leading to fires starting easily and higher rates of fire spread under the right burning conditions,” added the MNR.
“The ministry will continue to assess wildland fire hazard conditions, and a RFZ designation may be reinstated in higher risk areas if the fire hazard and fire activity warrants.”
