Northwestern Ontario is currently battling 84 active wildfires, as reported by Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) on Sunday night. Out of these, seven fires are uncontrolled, six are contained, nine are under control, and the rest are under observation. The recent update indicated no new fires in the northwest since Friday. Cooler temperatures and rainfall on Saturday were expected to aid in reducing the intensity of major fires in the area.

While the forest fire risk is mostly low to moderate across northwestern Ontario, certain areas, like around Fort Frances, exhibit pockets of high hazard. Notably, there are high-risk zones north of Lake Nipigon and around Marten Falls First Nation.

The Rinker Complex, comprising Thunder Bay 36, Dryden 34, and Dryden 35, is among the largest firefighting efforts in the region. Despite their massive sizes, these fires are not yet contained. Evacuation orders remain in effect for affected areas, but firefighters are making significant progress in extinguishing hotspots. In the Atikokan Cluster, Fort Frances 13, 14, and 15 are being monitored closely, with some areas not yet under control.

Approximately 829 individuals are displaced due to the wildfires, while around 2,000 evacuees have returned home in northwestern Ontario. Evacuation alerts are active for Fort Frances 39 and Minnesota’s “Thumb Fire,” urging residents to be prepared for potential evacuations.

In the northeast, two new fires were reported, with one under control and the other extinguished. Forest fire danger ratings vary across northeastern Ontario, with most areas at low risk but with some pockets of moderate and high danger. The ministry has allocated additional funds for firefighting resources and personnel to enhance wildfire response capabilities and is conducting a review to improve future planning and responses.