Crews battle forest fire near Chelmsford golf course

In its latest update Sunday evening, Ontario Forest Fires said the Sudbury 29 fire is 0.1 of a hectare, one of three new fires reported July 19, bringing the total to 46 active fires in the northeast region. (Ontario Forest Fires photo)

An Ontario FireRanger crew is helping the Greater Sudbury Fire Department battle a forest fire near the Chelmsford Golf Course.

In its latest update Sunday evening, Ontario Forest Fires said the Sudbury 29 fire is 0.1 of a hectare, one of three new fires reported July 19, bringing the total to 46 active fires in the northeast region.

The others include Cochrane 45, which is being observed 120 kilometres west of the Fort Albany Airport, in the Far North.

Cochrane 46 has already been declared out. It measured a total of 0.1 of a hectare and was located on an island of Ritchie Lake, north of Hearst.

Six out of control in northeast

Of the current fires, six are out of control, including Wawa 17, which is being fought by four FireRanger crews.

The fire is located 15 kilometres northeast of Pic Mobert and east of White Lake.

“Helipads have been established to facilitate access and crews are continuing to work to establish hoselines,” Ontario Forest Fires said.

“There was some precipitation in the area yesterday, and despite the high winds, there has been no further growth on this fire over the weekend.”

The situation is severe in the northwest region, where 13 new fires were reported Sunday evening. Across the northwest, there are a total of 146 active fires.

The largest new fire is Thunder Bay 60, which was confirmed in the evening hours of July 18 near the southwest side of Lake Nipigon near Lehtinen Lake.

“The 388-hectare fire is being observed,” the update said.

Evacuation order issued

Of the total in the region, 51 fires are not under control, seven fires are being held, eight are under control and 80 are being observed.

Up-to-date information can be found here.

Some areas are under an evacuation order – view the evacuation map here.

The order is in effect as of July 20 at 7 a.m.