Fire reported on Lake of the Woods

One new fire was reported in the West Fire Region yesterday.
Kenora District Fire #22, located about 25 km south of Kenora, is a 0.1-hectare blaze on a small island inside the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve.

Under the Forest Fire Management Strategy for Ontario, and the Lake of the Woods Fire Response Plan, fires in certain areas may be monitored rather than receive full suppression to allow for the natural disturbance of fire for the restoration and maintenance of ecological health and integrity.
A Fire Assessment Report (FAR) is being conducted on Kenora Fire #22 for monitoring rather than suppression.
Ecosystems in many of Ontario’s protected areas, including the Prairie, Boreal, and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence ecosystems, represented in Lake of the Woods, are considered to be adapted to periodic disturbance by fire.
Lack of fire disturbance over the past century has resulted in ecosystem conditions that do not represent the forest, savannah, or grassland conditions that existed before modern intervention.
Shifts in species composition, accumulations of biomass, insect infestations, poor regeneration, and degradation of wildlife habitat are examples of changes that have been documented.
Fires on the islands and peninsulas on Lake of the Woods that threaten human life, property, or other values receive a full response.
All other fires will have a fire assessment report completed, and will receive a modified response and/or monitoring to ensure they do not threaten human life, public safety, or currently identified values.
The fire hazard remains “low” across most of the region, except for a small band of higher hazard in the southeastern portions of the Fort Frances District and the southern portion of the Thunder Bay District along the Canada/U.S. border.
There are four active fires in the region at this time—one each in the districts of Fort Frances, Kenora, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout.
Under the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario, day burning of brush or grass is not allowed.
Such burning should be done no sooner than two hours before sunset and it must be put it out no later than two hours after sunrise.
Choose a safe site, keep your fire small, and never leave it unattended. Remember to ensure the fire is put dead out before leaving the site.
If you live in a municipality, check local bylaws for any burning restrictions that may apply.