Two fires prompted highway closers in the Rainy River District on Monday.

Highway 11 west of Fort Frances was temporarily closed late afternoon because of a fire at a nearby business.

Officials with the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service says the fire originated within a pile of rubble that spread to a pile of tires at Pro-Shine on Pit Road 2.

Smoke from the fire pushed toward the Highway, reducing visibility.

It is not certain how the rubbish caught fire.

The fire did spread into nearby property owned by Armstrong Construction before the firefighters were able to bring the flames under control.

All three of the Fire Services’ trucks were pressed into service with assistance from Alberton township, which supplied its tanker truck to serve as a source of water.

Additional support was requested from Couchiching Fire Department, but later cancelled.

No one was hurt, and no buildings were damaged, but some equipment was lost in the fire.

Meantime, the town has stopped issuing permits for open burning of grass or brush because of dry conditions.

Recreational fires in an approved fire pit or ring are still permitted.

In the east end of the district, a section of Highway 11 east of Atikokan was shut down because of a forest fire at the north of Crystal Lake.

The Ministry of Natural Resources says aerial suppression with CL415 waterbombers was continuing into Monday evening on the 180-hectare fire.

Ontario Provincial Police were alternating traffic past the area to allow fire crews to do their work.