As cooler, rainier weather has eased wildfire risks in northwestern Ontario, a number of travel restrictions have been lifted in the region.
An implementation order was first issued Saturday near a wildfire known as Fort Frances 5 in the Dryden, Fort Frances and Atikokan district, limiting travel and certain activities.
On Sunday, a second implementation order was put in place due to a fire called Fort Frances 4 in the same district “to ensure public safety and/or to ensure effective fire suppression.”
Both orders were lifted Tuesday evening.
“All travel and the use of roads and lakes in the areas previously identified are available and residents may return to their properties. Wildland fire suppression activities are ongoing on Fort Frances 4 and Fort Frances 5, but public safety relating to these fires is no longer a concern,” according to the province’s forest fires webpage.
There are three confirmed wildfires in the northwest region as of Wednesday afternoon, two of which are under control, confirmed Chris Marchand, fire information officer with Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services in the northwest region.
The largest fire — Dryden 11 — is just over 150 hectares large and is currently being held. The blaze is located north of Ignace on the east side of Sandbar Lake, and has prompted the temporary closure of Sandbar Lake Provincial Park.
The park opened for the season Friday but had to close later that day “due to increased risk from nearby forest fire activity,” it posted on Facebook.
“Ontario Parks will continue to work with fire officials, as we are closely monitoring the situation and reassessing daily. The park will reopen when conditions are safe for visitors and staff,” Gary Wheeler, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, wrote in an email to CBC News Tuesday evening.
“We encourage visitors to check the Sandbar Lake Provincial Park alerts page on OntarioParks.ca for the most up-to-date information.”
The forest fire danger rating remains low across northern Ontario; the latest information can be found on the province's interactive forest fire map online.
Local fire department reflects on response
Crews with Chapple, Emo and La Vallee Fire and Emergency Services are reflecting on Friday’s flurry of wildfire activity, where volunteers faced a trio of blazes simultaneously.
“This past weekend was chaotic for fire and dispatch services across the district, to say the least. Cell communications can prove to be difficult in remote areas and hills/bedrock affect radio signals,” the department posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.
The fires threatened nearby homes, recreational lands and a church, as well as a local fire hall and training ground. Despite challenging conditions, no homes or major buildings were lost.
“The winds were extreme and swirling, making it difficult to get a big picture of the situations,” Alyssa Griffith, a volunteer with the department, told CBC News Wednesday.
“With our own resources stretched between the three wildfires and many structures threatened, we called in neighbouring communities that were available to assist. We did call for water, aircraft and more ground support, but they were unavailable due to other wildfires in the region.
“Even though this was a very intense situation, the community really came together to help. We can't thank them enough for this support.”
Griffith became involved in the department many years ago to help bridge the gap in resources.
“Even though I had children, I was always involved somewhat, and as they've grown, I've definitely put more into it because there is such a need in our communities for volunteers to step up,” she said.
People can help prevent the spread of wildfires by keeping their yards tidy, grass trimmed, and trees and brush cleared back from structures, she said.
She also urges them to abide by their community’s local fire restrictions as well as provincial guidelines, and to check out Firesmart Canada’s website for more wildfire safety tips.
As for Marchand, he warns that conditions can quickly change.
“We have clear skies and lower relative humidity values, which should see a fairly quick rebound to some higher fire hazard conditions as we go on,” Marchand told CBC News Wednesday afternoon. “What will moderate that are those sporadic rain showers that we see throughout the week.
“If we go a certain period of time or a couple days without meaningful rainfall in any one place, we can definitely see fire hazard conditions rise in those areas.”