For the first time in weeks, there isn’t a single out-of-control forest fire burning in northeastern Ontario.
Of the 42 fires currently burning in the region, all are either being held, under control or simply being observed.
And yesterday, only one new fire was confirmed.
The Sudbury 112 fire, which is burning 0.2 hectares of bush five kilometres northwest of Capreol, is under control.
The Parry Sound 33 fire, which over the past month has caused evacuation orders and poor air quality, as well as impacted tourism in parts of the North, isn’t any smaller today. Still burning 11,362 hectares of forest, the fire is being held.
While ground crews continue to mop up hot spots around the perimeter of the fire, residents in the area will continue to see drifting smoke.
Meanwhile, near North Bay, the Lady Evelyn fire cluster is also being held. The huge North Bay 72 fire — 27,285 hectares in size — is being help. Helicopter bucketing continues to support the firefighters on the ground.
The restricted fire zone that once covered a massive swath of Ontario has shrunk considerably this week. It still extends from near Temiskaming Shores in the north to just south of Huntsville, and from Mattawa in the east to Sagamok (west of Espanola) in the west.
Sudbury.com new media reporter Heather Green-Oliver visited the Parry Sound 33 command centre on Aug. 15, speaking with firefighters and touring over the fire area in a helicopter. We will bring you video from the scene later on today.
To find a detailed map of active fires, current travel restrictions, and restricted fire zones, visit Ontario.ca/forestfire.
— Sudbury.com