Forest fires
Information about the current forest fire danger, forest fire activity and fire restrictions across the province.
Report a fire
To report a forest fire call
South of the French and Mattawa rivers please 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. Please note that not all fires are mapped and perimeters are not updated every day (may differ from the size reported in the table).
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 would like to remind the public that during Ontario’s legislated fire season (from April 1 to October 31), Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations are in effect. In order to dispose of yard waste and woody debris, we encourage you to use methods such as composting or using your local landfill. If you must burn, use caution and follow Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations.
Fires are to be ignited no sooner than 2 hours before sunset and extinguished no later than 2 hours after sunrise. Always have tools/water adequate to contain the fire at the site. Know the rules for safe outdoor burning. Read the full set of Outdoor Burning Regulations.
Residents within municipal boundaries must also check with their local fire department for burning restrictions or permitting requirements prior to burning.
Forest fire updates
Northwest Region
Updated: July 12, 2025 - 8:00 p.m. CDT
New fires
Four new fires were confirmed in the Northwest Region by the evening of July 12:
- Red Lake 93 (RED093) was located approximately 2.5 kilometres north of Pipestone Bay and 3.0 kilometres southeast of Pine Ridge Road. The fire was called out at 0.1 hectares in size.
- Red Lake 94 (RED094) and Red Lake 95 (RED095) are located approximately 12.0 kilometres southeast of the South Arm of Berens Lake, and 13.0 kilometres northwest of Pringle Lake. RED094 is currently measuring 80.0 hectares in size while RED095 is measuring 10.0 hectares in size. Both fires are not under control.
- Red Lake 96 (RED096) is located on the north side of Wyman Lake, approximately 15.0 kilometres north of Pringle Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
At the time of this update there 51 active fires in the Northwest Region. Among them, 15 are not under control, 1 is being held, 7 are under control, and 28 are being observed. Five fires have been called out in the past 24 hours.
The wildland fire hazard is low to moderate across the majority of the Northwest Region except for the Red Lake where the hazard is high through the central and western portion of the fire management sector.
For a closer look at fire hazard conditions in your area, see our Interactive Map.
Fires of note:
Several existing fires in the Northwest Region are now considered fires of note due to their proximity to communities following recent growth. Suppression efforts are ongoing.
An Incident Management Team has been assigned to Red Lake 62 and a cluster of area fires.
Please Note: Poor visibility due to smoke may impact our ability to regularly map these fires but fire management personnel are actively working on providing updated fire sizes and perimeters.
Red Lake 12 - Deer Lake First Nation, Sandy Lake First Nation
- Red Lake 12 is now being observed at 195,670.4 hectares in size.
Red Lake 62 – Pikangikum First Nation
- Red Lake 62 was re-mapped overnight with a high-level infrared scan showing a new size of 31,367 hectares. The fire’s status remains not under control.
- As of July 12, restrictions are in place prohibiting access within the Red Lake 62 fire area for public safety and effective firefighting. See below for details.
- Poor visibility due to smoke has hampered aerial operations on the fire.
- Two additional heavy helicopters, with increased bucketing capacity, have been added to support fire operations in the Bak Lake Cluster.
- There are 12 firefighting crews assigned to Red Lake 62, supported by fire engines, heavy equipment and aircraft.
- Crews are moving equipment and relocating along new sections of the fire’s perimeter.
Restrictions in effect - Red Lake 62
The Ministry of Natural Resources’ Far North District has invoked an Implementation Order now in effect for the purposes of public safety and/or effectual fire suppression, for areas near Red Lake 62 (RED062) Under the Emergency Area Order EAO 2025-011 declared on July 12, 2025.
Unless authorized by a travel permit issued by the Far North District office of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), no person shall enter into the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map, and all persons are encouraged to evacuate said area.
Specifically, all travel and use of the following areas is prohibited:
- Nungesser Road from (and including) the Coli Road junction north to Peekwatahmaewee Sahkaheekahn/Berens Lake.
- Coli Road Including the Coli Lake cottage subdivision and Coli Lake campground, Sidace Road, North Road, Caribou Road, Taxi Bay Road, Pikangikum Road.
- All other trails, winter roads, operational roads, and branch roads within the hatched area identified on the attached Implementation Order map.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
This Order is in effect at 12:01 am CDT on July 12, 2025, until such time as the order is revoked.
Requests for travel permits can be directed to Larissa Hutton, Far North District Office of the MNR at
Red Lake 40 – North Spirit Lake First Nation
- Red Lake 40 is currently measuring 11,192 hectares in size and remains not under control.
- Crews are currently engaged in setting up sprinkler systems on structures and critical infrastructure in the community of North Spirit Lake.
- Poor visibility due to smoke has hampered aerial operations on the fire.
- When conditions allow, crews will be added to the fire with the goal of securing the fire’s northern perimeter and stopping its spread towards North Spirit Lake.
Red Lake 67 – McDowell Lake First Nation
- Several fires have burned together over the past several days to create the single fire now known as Red Lake 67 at a size 32,364 hectares. The fire is not under control.
- Structural protection (sprinklers) on buildings and critical infrastructure is complete at McDowell Lake First Nation and systems are being maintained.
- Structural protection efforts are also taking place south of the fire.
- Fire managers are looking for opportunities to place crews and secure the fire’s eastern perimeter on the peninsula nearest to McDowell Lake First Nation.
Sioux Lookout 54 – Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug/Big Trout Lake First Nation
- Sioux Lookout 54 is currently measuring 167.0 hectares in size and is not under control.
- Crews continue to establish hose lines working along side bucketing helicopters to suppress the fire in priority areas.
Northeast Region
Updated: July 12, 2025 - 5:45 p.m. EDT
A new wildland fire was confirmed last night after the publishing of the media advisory:
- Cochrane 15 (COC015)is located approximately 22 kilometers northeast of the community of Peawanuck. This fire is 7 hectares in size and is being observed.
No new wildland fires were confirmed in the Northeast Region by the evening of July 12.
At the time of this update there are 8 active wildland fires in the Northeast Region. All 8 fires are being observed.
The wildland fire hazard ranges from low to high across the Northeast Region today.
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
Alison Lake
Fire Information Officer
Northwest Region
Alison Bezubiak
Fire Information Officer
Red Lake 40, 62, and 67
Chris Marchand
Fire Information Officer
Social media
Check out our Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts for safety tips and other forest fire related information.
For highway conditions, including road closures:
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.
- 339fires in 2025
- 153fires in 2024
- 33010-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: