Forest fire situation heats up in northwestern Ontario

Firefighters from across Canada, and abroadare arriving to help battle blazes in northwestern Ontario, while 30 crews from that region remain in the province's northeast working on fires there.

Monday was the busiest of the season thus far with 31 new fires starting, mainly in the Red Lake andKenoraDistricts where numerous fires are already being fought, said officials with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, who added that firefighters from Alberta, the United States and Mexico are enrouteto offer their assistance.

KenoraFire 71,discovered near the Manitoba border on Sunday,has grown quickly to 2,000 hectares, said ministry officials, adding that on Monday, more than20wildlandfirefighters from Saskatchewan were briefed and sent to work onthe spreading fire. It is located about33 kilometres north of WabaseemongFirst Nation and about 80 kilometres northwest of Kenora.

Winds are alsobringing heavy smoke to the doorsteps of many residents in theKenoraarea.

The ministry saidan ignition team has been sent to Red Lake Fire 70, located near the western boundary of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, to try to bring the 1400 hectare fire to natural boundaries.

Fire rangerswere placing sprinkler units on various outpost cabins throughout the area of the fire.

The forest fire hazard is currently high in the Kenora and Dryden Districts, while moderate conditions prevail in the Fort Frances, Thunder Bay and southern portions of the Red Lake and Sioux Lookout Districts.

Nipigon District varies from moderate to high along the north shore and low hazards conditions across the far north.