Northern Ontario Fire Restrictions to Be Lifted

Effective Thursday morning at 12:01 a.m. ET, the restricted fire zone (RFZ) in place for northwestern Ontario and parts of the northeast will be revoked. This lifting of the RFZ means residents can resume open-air burning, including campfires, with specific time and safety regulations in place. Fires are generally permitted no sooner than two hours before sunset and must be extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise, though municipalities may have additional rules. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is urging the public to exercise extreme caution and adhere to outdoor fire regulations.

Simultaneously, evacuation and implementation orders associated with specific wildfires will be lifted on Thursday at 9 a.m. This will allow over 600 individuals from Whitesand First Nation and Armstrong to return to their homes. Police will be present to ensure the safe return of residents to these communities.

While provincial restrictions are being eased, individual municipalities retain the authority to maintain their own fire bans. Thunder Bay Fire Rescue has indicated that the city's municipal fire ban will be lifted in alignment with the provincial order, but residents are advised to check with their local fire departments for any remaining local restrictions. The wildfire season officially continues until October 31st, and the province will continue to monitor fire hazard conditions, with the possibility of reinstating restrictions if necessary.

About 110 wildfires are currently active across Ontario, with seven not yet under control. The recent lifting of restrictions is due to a considerable easing of forest fire hazards. Residents are reminded to familiarize themselves with Ontario's Outdoor Fires Regulations and to use extreme caution when engaging in any open-air burning to prevent new fires.