A pair of new wildland fires were confirmed in the region yesterday (May 18).
The northeast region currently has 13 active fires, according to Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.
Sault Ste. Marie 9 is located in Elliot Lake.
The fire, which is currently 0.2 hectares, is located next to Esten Drive South in Elliot Lake, 200 metres west of Nordic late and is being held at this time. The Elliot Lake Fire Department was first on scene and received help from a FireRanger crew shortly after.
The second fire, Chapleau 7, is 0.3 hectares and located north of Vincent Lake and two kilometres south of Grip Lake. The fire is currently not under control.
Among the active fires is Timmins 1, which was confirmed on May 10 and is located two kilometres southeast of Morin Village and a half-kilometre north of Barager's Lake. It is still not under control.
The fire has been remapped as of today and is currently 1,445 hectares.
An implementation order restricting access and use of certain roads and Crown land has been revised but is still in effect.
After being evacuated on the weekend, Shining Tree residents were allowed to return earlier this week using Highway 560 from Elk Lake only.
Restrictions remain in place for all travel, use and access to:
- Highway 560 from Meteor Lake Road easterly to the Garibaldi/Sheard Township lines
- Nabakwasi Road from Highway 560 northerly to the Miramichi/Connaught Township lines
- All activities within Miramichi Township and parts of Garibaldi Township
- Barricades are in place on Highway 560 at Meteor Lake Road and at the intersection of Highway 560 and Sandy Lake Road.
- A barricade is also in place at the intersection of Nabakwasi Road and Cabot Road.
"No person shall enter these areas unless authorized by a travel permit from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. To obtain a travel permit contact the Timmins District office at 705-465-1218," reads the update.
Among the other active fires are:
- Sudbury 4 was confirmed the afternoon of May 10. It is a 212-hectare fire located three kilometres east of Estaire and 1 kilometre south of Nepewassi Lake road. It is being held.
- Sudbury 7 was confirmed the afternoon of May 10. It is a 221-hectare fire located 600 metres north of Ashigami road and 0.3 kilometres west of Ashigami Lake Road East. It is under control.
- Timmins 2 was confirmed the afternoon of May 10. It is a 57.5-hectare fire located near Duchabani Creek, 1.5 kilometres northwest of Cullen Lake. It is under control.
- Kirkland Lake 2 is being held at 40 hectares and was confirmed Friday west of Twitchgrass Lake.
- Sudbury 11 was confirmed on Friday. It is an 88-hectare fire located two kilometres northeast of Mink Lake. It is being held
An interactive fire map can be found here.
