It was an unforgettable forest fire season in northwestern Ontario.
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry has released the final seasonal numbers.
Information Officer Chris Marchand says severe drought and dry weather conditions resulted in 1,198 fires, a majority in our region.
The record is 2,092 which was set in 1976.
The ten-year average is 839 fires.
However, Marchand says, “The 2021 season surpassed the previous annual record for the amount of hectares burned in the province which was set in 1995. This season we burned over 793,000 hectares versus the previous record of 713,000 plus hectares.”
Marchand notes it was a record breaking season on another front.
“Kenora 51, which was the fire north of Minaki and Wabaseemoong, became the province’s largest fire on record, surpassing 2011’s Sioux Lookout 70, which was a fire of over 140,000 hectares.”
The Kenora area blaze was mapped at 200,667 hectares.
Red Lake 16 in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park also exceeded the previous record.
Aggressive fire activity also resulted in the evacuation of 3,400 people in various communities.
Marchand says local fire crews were able to handle the pressure thanks to emergency support from the United States, Mexico, Australia and across Canada.
Ontario received the assistance of nearly 500 fire personnel and 25 aircraft.
To hear more about the mutual aid, visit the Audio link below:
