Birch Point Resort - Kashabowie

07/28/2026

07/25/2026

Hi all. Here is some info we received from the MNR. We are part of a 3 cluster fire, Fort 14, 15 & 38 collectively referred to as the Atikokan cluster. Our fire is Fort 14.
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Current Fire Situation:
Firefighting operations added an influx of Alberta firefighters and crews from
Ontario’s Northeast Region on July 23, enhancing suppression capabilities on
Fort Frances 14 and 15.
Infrared scanning of fires in the Atikokan Cluster have begun. Fixed-wing aircraft
mounted with heat-sensing equipment fly patterns over a fire area in the cool
early morning hours to detect areas of remaining heat in the ground. These
‘hotspots’ are geo-located on maps that fire operations staff on the ground can
use to find and extinguish them. Infrared scans are particularly useful on deep-
burning fires such as those in the Atikokan Cluster – where field reports indicate
depth of burn up to 30 centimetres.
• Sasakatchewan-based Q-400 retardant tanker aircraft have been utilized near the north side of Fort Frances 14, dropping retardant barriers on strategic high-ground areas on Fort Frances 14’s northern flank, nearest the Trans-Canada highway.

On Fort Frances 14:
Crews with a specialized wildland fire engine are posted near Lac Des
Mille Lacs First Nation 22A1 establishing hoselines in areas near the
community and working into the interi Fire fighters are working with pumps and hose south of Panache Lake, in
the Honkonen Narrows area and along Fort Frances 14’s northern
perimeter.
Crews on the southwest side of the fire are establishing hoselines
northwards from Baril Lake.
Crews are supported by bucket-equipped helicopters, including several
‘heavy’ class machines with increased bucketing capacity.

Fort Frances 15:
 Crews are arranged across the northern perimeter of the fire patrolling for
fire activity, establishing hoselines and utilizing helicopter buckets to
extinguish hotspots.
• Fort Frances 14 is 51,806 hectares in size. The fire’s status is not under control.
• Fort Frances 38, the 44.2 hectare fire near Crystal Lake and Hwy. 11, is under
control and was scanned for hot spots in the early morning hours.• Fort Frances 15 is 42,279 hectares. The fire’s status is not under control. There
has been no growth on the fire’s perimeter in the direction of major travel
corridors.
• Fort Frances 14’s southern perimeter is approximately 9 kilometres north of Hwy.
11 at its closest point near Baril Lake. Fort Frances 14’s northern perimeter is
approximately 5 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Hwy. east of Upsala at its
closest point.
• Fort Frances 15’s northern perimeter remains approximately 1.5 kilometres south of Hwy 11 at its closest point.

07/22/2026

At the time of this update, there are currently 145 active wildland fires in the Northwest Region. Of those fires, 49 are not under control, 6 are being held, 8 are under control, and 82 are being observed. 🔥

Although the Northwest Region has received large amounts of precipitation over the past several days, the fire hazard is starting to rebound. The potential for holdover lightning fires remains a concern. The public is advised to exercise extreme caution, and to please stay clear of active fires, as FireRangers and aerial suppression crews continue their work.

Infrared scanning aircraft have been flying overnight into the early morning scanning our active fires for hotspots. Doing so helps us detect hotspots quickly.

FireRanger crews continue to make exceptional progress along the fire line. They are supported by bucketing helicopters that are suppressing hotspots.

A Restricted Fire Zone remains in effect due to the current fire load and to reduce the number of human-caused fires. Learn more on our website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/outdoor-fire-restrictions

07/22/2026

Find information about the current danger, activity and fire restrictions of forest fires and grass and brush fires across Ontario.

07/21/2026

As of this afternoon, there are 139 active fires in the Northwest Region. Of those fires 45 are not under control, 5 are being held, 8 are under control, and 81 are being observed.

With cooler temperatures and cloud cover, fire activity on existing fires has remained minimal. Although the fire hazard remains low across the Northwest Region, lightning associated with overnight precipitation still has the potential to cause new fire starts. The public is advised to exercise extreme caution, as holdover lightning fires may emerge in the coming days.

Please stay clear of active fires, as FireRangers and aerial suppression crews continue their work.

Fort Frances 15 (FOR015) has been remapped to a smaller, more accurate size of 41,830.2 hectares. The fire is not under control. FireRanger crews are making good progress on suppression efforts supported by bucketing helicopters targeting hotspots.

For the most up-to-date fire information, please visit: Ontario.ca/fireupdates

07/19/2026

Current fire activity

07/19/2026

As of early this afternoon, there are 139 active fires in the Northwest Region.

Fires across the region have exhibited minimal fire behaviour and growth over the last few days, however the fire hazard is rebounding. Recent precipitation was accompanied by lightning, and forest fuels remain very dry, making them susceptible to holdover ignitions caused by lightning. We are continuing to monitor the landscape for new fires following recent storm activity.

An Incident Management Team has assumed command of Thunder Bay 36 which was most recently mapped at 318,812.7 hectares. The most up to date perimeter can be viewed on our interactive fire map: https://www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca/ForestFireInformationMap/index.html?viewer=FFIM.FFIM

The Atikokan Cluster of fires (Fort Frances 14, 15 and 38) continued to observe minimal fire behaviour overnight. An Incident Management Team, 17 firefighting crews and 14 helicopters are assigned to firefighting efforts.

A Restricted Fire Zone remains in effect due to the high to extreme fire hazard, increased wildland fire activity, the current fire load and to reduce the number of human-caused wildland fires. Learn more on our website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/outdoor-fire-restrictions