The restricted fire zone (RFZ) that has been in place for northwestern Ontario and a small part of the northeast since July 15 is scheduled to be removed on Thursday morning.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in Ontario intends to officially cancel the order at 12:01 a.m. ET.
During a restricted fire zone, all open-air burning, including campfires, is prohibited. Once this restriction is lifted, individuals will be permitted to start fires no earlier than two hours before sunset and must extinguish them no later than two hours after sunrise. However, specific regulations on fire initiation times may vary in certain municipalities like Thunder Bay.
The MNR expresses gratitude to the residents of the province “for their efforts in preventing wildland fires and ensuring community safety.” The ministry advises people to exercise extreme caution and comply with Ontario’s Outdoor Fires Regulations, as stated by the provincial forest fire website.
The province will monitor wildland fire hazard conditions continuously, and a RFZ designation may be reinstated in high-risk areas if deemed necessary due to fire hazard levels and activity.
The restrictions were enforced at the peak of wildfire incidents in the region, resulting in over 2,800 individuals being displaced from multiple communities. Current figures indicate that around 700 people are still under evacuation orders.
Cots set up at Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay, serving as an evacuation center due to the wildfires. (Marc Doucette/CBC)
Approximately 110 wildfires are currently active across the province, with seven of them still not under control.
As forest fire risks have significantly diminished, the evacuation and implementation orders for wildfires, including Thunder Bay 36, Thunder Bay 56, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35, will also be lifted at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
This development will allow travel and access to roads and lakes in these regions, enabling over 600 evacuees from Whitesand First Nation and Armstrong to return home officially, as reported by CBC News.
Thunder Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have announced increased patrols on Highway 527 and in the communities of Armstrong and Whitesand First Nation to facilitate the safe return of residents following the updates to the MNR’s orders, according to a statement on Facebook by OPP North West Region on Wednesday morning.
“Please drive carefully, be patient, and adhere to the posted speed limits. Let’s collaborate to ensure everyone returns home safely,” OPP emphasized.
Details on fire bans and safe burning practices
Kevin Anderson, the division chief of