Forest fires
Find information about the current danger, activity and fire restrictions of forest fires and grass and brush fires across Ontario.
Report a fire
To report a wildland fire (including grass, brush and forest fires) call
South of the French and Mattawa rivers call 911.
Interactive fire map
Real time updates.
Our interactive map visually shows active fires, current fire danger across the province and restricted fire zones in effect.
The map now shows perimeters for some fires over 40 hectares in size. Note that not all fires are mapped and perimeters are not updated every day (may differ from the size reported in the table).
Most of the data used in the Interactive Map is available on Ontario GeoHub.
We recommend using Google chrome as your web browser to access the map.
Ontario's fire season starts April 1
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services reminds the public that outdoor fire rules are in effect throughout Ontario’s legislated fire season, which runs from April 1 to October 31. To dispose of yard waste and woody debris, we encourage the use of alternatives such as composting or utilizing your local landfill. If you must burn, use caution and follow the rules outlined in Ontario’s Wildland Fire Management regulation.
Fires are to be ignited no sooner than 2 hours before sunset and extinguished no later than 2 hours after sunrise. Always ensure you have adequate tools and water available to contain the fire at the site. Know the rules for safe outdoor burning. Read the full set of outdoor fire rules.
Residents within municipal boundaries must also check with their local fire department for burning restrictions or permitting requirements prior to burning.
Wildland Fire Management Act
Effective April 1, several regulatory changes come into effect as a result of updates to the Wildland Fire Management Act. These amendments will help to ensure greater awareness of rules designed to prevent unwanted human-caused fires and include:
- A new Ontario Regulation 44/26 (Administrative Penalties) to establish a framework for issuing administrative monetary penalties for contraventions of the Act or its regulations, generally before a wildland fire has occurred.
- Replacing the Outdoor Fires regulation with the Ontario Regulation 43/26 (Wildland Fire Management) to clarify, streamline, and reduce permit requirements.
- Amendments to the existing cost recovery regulation.
- Updates to short form wordings in an existing regulation.
These amendments will help modernize wildland fire management and protect Ontario communities throughout current and future wildland fire seasons. To learn more about the updates now in effect, keep an eye out for our social media posts this month or visit the Wildland Fire Management Act webpage found on e-Laws.
Learn more about the regulations.
- Ontario Regulation 44/26 (Administrative Penalties)
- Ontario Regulation 43/26 (Wildland Fire Management)
Forest fire updates
Northeast Region
Updated: July 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
There were no new wildland fires confirmed in the Northeast Region today.
There was one wildland fire confirmed yesterday evening after our update:
- North Bay 22 (NOR022) was 0.1 of a hectare in size and was located along the north shore of Burnt Island, just under a kilometre south of Little Sandy Island. The fire is now out.
There are currently 32 active wildland fires in the Northeast Region. Of these, 1 is being held, 6 are under control and 25 are being observed.
To access the current forest fire danger rating in your area visit our interactive fire map.
Northwest Region
Updated: July 9, 2026 at 6:08 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Two additional wildland fires were confirmed in the evening of July 8 following the previous update.
- Fort Frances 28 (FOR028) is located in Quetico Park, northeast of This Man Lake. The 0.3-hectare fire is being observed.
- Fort Frances 29 (FOR029) is located in Quetico Park, near Baptism Lake. The 0.2-hectare fire is not under control.
Seven new wildland fires were confirmed in the Northwest Region by the evening of July 9.
- Fort Frances 30 (FOR030) is located near the southern end of White Otter Lake. The 0.2-hectare fire is not under control.
- Fort Frances 31 (FOR031) is located approximately 2.6 kilometres east of Highway 502, near McTaggart Lake. The 0.2-hectare fire is not under control.
- Sioux Lookout 63 (SLK063) is located approximately 66 kilometers south of Wunnummin Lake and southeast of Brock Lake. The 5.0-hectare fire is being observed.
- Sioux Lookout 64 (SLK064) and Sioux Lookout 65 (SLK065) are located approximately 33 kilometres north of Slate Falls Nation, near Meen Lake. The fires measure 60.0 hectares and 0.1 hectares respectively and are being observed.
- Sioux Lookout 66 (SLK066) is located approximately 7.4 kilometres north of Fry Lake, between Nabemakoseka Lake and Obaskaka Lake. The 70.0-hectare fire is not under control.
- Dryden 26 (DRY026) is located approximately 1.2 kilometres east of Highway 502, north of Rattlesnake Lake. The 1.5-hectare fire is not under control.
At the time of this update there are 74 active wildland fires in the Northwest Region. Of those fires, 13 are not under control, 2 are being held, 4 are under control and 55 are being observed.
To access the current forest fire danger rating in your area visit our interactive fire map.
Fires of note
Fort Frances 14
- Fort Frances 14 (FOR014) is located approximately 35 kilometres southwest of Upsala near Byers Lake.
- The 1,570 hectare fire is not under control.
- There are 15 FireRanger crews, 5 Type-2 fire fighting crews, and 9 helicopters assigned to suppression operations
- Minimal fire behaviour was observed today.
- Crews are focused on establishing hose lines around the fire perimeter, supported by helicopter bucketing operations.
Fort Frances 15
- Fort Frances 15 (FOR015) is located in Quetico Provincial Park, south of Pickerel Lake.
- The 1,300 hectare fire is not under control.
- Minimal fire behaviour was observed today.
- Quetico Provincial Park has issued a closure in parts of the park. Details can be found on their webpage.
Kasabonika Lake First Nation Cluster
- A total of 9 FireRanger crews, 6 fire management personnel, 3 helicopters and 2 fixed wing aircraft are assigned to the Kasabonika Lake First Nation Cluster.
- FireRanger crews are now extinguishing hotspots identified by infrared scanning technologies.
- Nipigon 16 (NIP016) is located approximately 6 kilometers southeast of the Kasabonika Airport. The 1,474.2 hectare wildland fire is now being held.
- Nipigon 12 (NIP012) is located approximately 20 kilometres west of Kasabonika Lake First Nation. The 2,119 hectare wildland fire is not under control.
- There is 1 additional active fire in the area surrounding Kasabonika Lake First Nation.
- Nipigon 13 (NIP013) is not under control at 500.4 hectares.
- Nipigon 14 (NIP014) is now out at 2.0 hectares.
- Nipigon 15 (NIP015) is now out at 0.1 hectares.
Restrictions in effect
NOTAM - Nipigon 16
There is currently a NOTAM in the area of wildland fire Nipigon 16 near Kasabonika Lake First Nation.
This is over and above the standard airspace restrictions imposed by Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) which state that the airspace around all active forest fires is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only, specifically airspace within 5 nautical miles, up to an altitude of 3000 feet above ground level.
Pilots are reminded that NOTAMs concerning forest fires can be found on NavCanada’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services under the ‘Weather and NOTAM’ tab, when flight planning.
NOTAM - Sioux Lookout 21
There is currently a NOTAM in the area of wildland fire Sioux Lookout 21 near Wunnumin Lake First Nation.
This is over and above the standard airspace restrictions imposed by Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) which state that the airspace around all active forest fires is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only, specifically airspace within 5 nautical miles, up to an altitude of 3000 feet above ground level.
Pilots are reminded that NOTAMs concerning forest fires can be found on NavCanada’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services under the ‘Weather and NOTAM’ tab, when flight planning.
Restricted fire zones
There are currently no restrictions in effect.
If your municipality has also imposed a fire ban, you must comply with both the restricted fire zone (RFZ) and municipal fire ban.
Contact information
Northeast Region
Evan Lizotte
Fire Information Officer
Sydney Morgan-Gervais
Fire Information Officer
Northwest Region
Alison Bezubiak
Fire Information Officer
Victoria Lee
Fire Information Officer
Social media
Check out our Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts for safety tips and other wildland fire related information.
For highway conditions, including road closures, call
For air quality in your area, visit:
public weather alerts for Canada
For smoke drift conditions across North America, visit:
smoke drift across North America
For information about wildland fire smoke and your health, consult:
smoke and your health
Fires: year to date
These figures represent the year-to-date total number of wildland fires inside Ontario’s fire region for the 2026 fire season, as they compare to the 2025 season and to the 10-year average.
- 350fires in 2026
- 322fires in 2025
- 28110-year average
Fire bans in provincial parks
For all park fire bans visit:
Ontario parks alerts
You are responsible for fires you light
From April through October, people using outdoor fires must follow strict guidelines under the Wildland Fire Management Act of Ontario to ensure their fires are properly managed.
Anyone who starts a fire outdoors must take all necessary steps to tend the fire, keep it under control and make sure the fire is out before leaving the site. A person failing to burn safely could be fined and held responsible for the cost of putting out the fire. People living in municipalities should check with local fire officials for bylaws on outdoor fires.
Hunters
- Check the interactive fire map to find out where the active wildland fires are in Ontario.
- Be aware of FireRangers who may be working in wildland areas.
- Check your surroundings for FireRanger activity before discharging your firearm to help keep everyone safe.
About Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES)
Visit our forest, wildland and outdoor fires page for more information on AFFES and wildland fire management, including: