It’s starting to feel like Ground Hog’s Day–the Forest Service has suppressed fires near Parley Lake and Hoist Bay and reopened those areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But new fires popped up on the Canadian side of the border, including one in the Fort Francis District in Quetico Provincial Park.
The latter is a lightning caused fire and one of four active fires in the park. Since April 1, 66 fires have burned in the district. According to an article in the Fort Frances Times online, last weekend was ablaze with fire activity. It read, “Seven new forest fires were reported in the region over the weekend with five on Saturday, located in the districts of Dryden, Nipigon and Kenora, and two on Sunday in the districts of Nipigon and Thunder Bay. On Friday, heading into the weekend, Kenora District picked up three fires that were the result of campfires left burning. These shore fires are now “out,” but the public is reminded of their responsibility under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario to attend their campfire at all times and put it dead out before leaving the site.” Read the full article HERE.
Because of the fire in the Fort Frances district, officials on the U.S. side of the border have closed the route along the U.S./Canada border and area surrounding Ottertrack, Knife, and adjacent lakes. Fire restrictions are also still in effect. The most up to date information can be found HERE.