Forest fires

All modes of travel and/or access, including aircraft, into the following areas are prohibited unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Far North District office of the MNR:

1. Nungesser Lake, Nungesser River, Coli Lake, Coli Creek, Sidace Lake, Stormer Lake, Wahshaykahmeesheeng/Kirkness Lake, Kirkness Creek, Peekwatahmaewee Sahkaheekahn/Berens Lake, Zimring Lake, Philp Lake, Pedlar lake, Pringle Lake including the Sahkeesahkahteekoh weesuhkaheegahn Dedicated Protected Area (Ontario Parks), Boughton Lake, Kavanagh Lake, Odin Lake, Kahnahmaykoosaysensikahk/Valhalla Lake, Maria Bay, Murfitt Lake, Upper and Lower Remote Lake, Dowling Lake, Dowling River, Hornblendite Lake, Harding Lake, Woodey Lake, Uren Lake, Lillycrop Lake, Baisley Lake, Minnett Lake, Treversh Lake, Sims Lake, Deebank Lake, Openshaw Lake, Lavis Lake, Teeple Lake, Rieger Lake, Sambells Lake, Peall Lake, Naylor Lake, Wyman Lake, Reigate Lake, Storey Lake, Toutin Lake, the north portion of Little Vermilion Lake, and the south portion of Peekahchekahmeewee Sahkaheekahn/Pikangikum Lake.
2. All other waterbodies, Private Land, and Crown Land as outlined in the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map.

Review the Implementation Order map here.

Red Lake 40 – North Spirit Lake First Nation

• Fire behaviour is low on Red Lake 40 following recent rainfall.
• 3 crews are established on the fire’s northern perimeter, forming hose lines and using helicopter bucket support to extinguish hotspots and prevent the potential for further spread of the fire towards North Spirit Lake.
• Sprinkler systems have been completed on critical infrastructure in the community of North Spirit Lake.
• Red Lake 40 is 8,789 hectares. The fire’s status is not under control.

Red Lake 67 – McDowell Lake First Nation

• A high-level infrared scan of the Red Lake 67 area was conducted last night. The results will show areas where heat is concentrated on the fire and provide hot spot targets for firefighters to seek out and extinguish.
• Red Lake 67 (RED 067) has been remapped to a more accurate, though reduced size of 22,347 hectares in size. The fire is not under control.
• Fire behaviour has been low on Red Lake 67.
• Structural protection (sprinklers) on buildings and critical infrastructure is complete at McDowell Lake First Nation and systems are being maintained.
• At the first opportunity crews will establish hose line to secure the fire’s eastern perimeter on the peninsula nearest to McDowell Lake First Nation.

Red Lake 72 – east of Poplar Hill

• Red Lake 72 remains not under control, now measuring 4,941 hectares.
• One firefighting crew is assigned and is working on extinguishing spot fires on the east side of McInnes Lake.

Northeast Region

Updated: July 18, 2025 - 5:45 p.m. EDT

One new wildland fire was confirmed in the Northeast Region by the evening of July 18:

• Cochrane 17 (COC017) is 109 hectares and is located in the Far North, on the Manitoba border, approximately 100 kilometres southwest of the Hudson Bay. The fire is being observed.

At the time of this update there are 10 active wildland fires in the Northeast Region. All are being observed. 

The wildland fire hazard is primarily low to moderate across the Northeast Region with a few areas experiencing a high fire hazard.

To view the fire hazard conditions in your area, see our Interactive Map.

Restricted fire zones

There are currently no restrictions in effect.

Contact information

Northeast Region

Evan Lizotte
Fire Information Officer
705-564-6146

Northwest Region

Alison Lake
Fire Information Officer
249-334-7015

Red Lake 40, 62, 67 and 72

Chris Marchand
Fire Information Officer
807-323-1851

For highway conditions, including road closures:Tel: 511

511on.ca

For air quality in your area, please visit:
public weather alerts for Canada

For smoke drift conditions across North America, visit:
smoke drift across North America

For information about forest fire smoke and your health, consult:
smoke and your health

Fires: year to date

The figures below represent the year-to-date total number of forest fires inside Ontario’s fire region for the 2025 fire season, as they compare to the 2024 season and to the 10-year average.

• 366
  fires in 2025
• 165
  fires in 2024
• 377
  10-year average

Fire bans in provincial parks

For all park fire bans see:
Ontario parks alerts

You are responsible for fires you light

From April through October, people using outdoor fires must follow strict guidelines under the Forest Fires Prevention 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 forested 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:

• FireRangers
• prescribed burns
• FireSmart