Fire crews are continuing their efforts across northwestern Ontario, where 42 wildfires remain active in the region.

A new wildfire—Sioux Lookout 54—was confirmed on July 9. It’s burning about 6.5 kilometres east of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) First Nation and is not under control. The fire is estimated at 15 hectares in size and is the largest new fire reported in recent days.

Two smaller fires—Red Lake 81 and Red Lake 82—have already been declared out. Red Lake 81 was located in Pikangikum First Nation and was extinguished the same evening. Red Lake 82 burned on the northeast side of Donald Lake in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park before also being called out.

At this time, eight fires are listed as not under control, six are under control, and 28 are being monitored. Six fires were called out in the past 24 hours.

The largest fire in the region remains Red Lake 12, which is now being observed and is holding at nearly 196,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, Red Lake 62 remains active and uncontrolled. That fire, located between Nungesser Lake and Woodey Lake, has disrupted access to Nungesser Road and continues to be the focus of firefighting efforts.

An Incident Management Team is being brought in to lead operations on Red Lake 62.

The wildfire hazard is low to moderate across parts of the Fort Frances, Dryden, and Thunder Bay sectors, but remains high to extreme across much of the northern part of the region.