AFFES Photo
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting 20 new fires over the weekend.
Nine were in the Red Lake district.
There are now 101 fires burning in the northwest region and 30 are considered not under control.
One fire of concern is Red Lake 65, burning about 7-kilometres northwest of Poplar Hill First Nation.
The blaze is listed at 16,065 hectares in size.
Officials say fire behaviour is too aggressive to safely put out ground crews and smoke and visibility pose challenges for using firefighting aircraft in the area.
They are looking for opportunities to bring the fire to natural boundaries.
Three FireRanger crews have been assigned to protect the community and critical infrastructure.
Red Lake 51 is burning about 24-kilometres west of Deer Lake First Nation.
The blaze is now at 48,760 hectares.
Officials say fire behaviour is too aggressive to safely put out ground crews and they are looking for opportunities to bring the eastern edge of the fire closest to the community to natural boundaries.
The top priority now is protecting the community and critical infrastructure.
Most residents of Poplar Hill and Deer Lake have already been evacuated as a precaution.
