Wildfire near Sault airport being held

An undated photo of a Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services patch on the sleeve of a firefighter uniform. (File photo/CTV News)

A wildland fire burning in the vicinity of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport is now classified as ‘being held,’ with firefighters making progress since the blaze was first reported Sunday afternoon.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie said there is no immediate threat to public safety and no evacuations are required – additionally, airport operations remain unaffected.

Fire Services said it was notified of the fire at about 3 p.m. on July 12. Firefighters remain on scene conducting an assessment and coordinating response efforts with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

“Crews have made significant progress in containing the fire and will remain on scene to monitor conditions and ensure the area is safe,” the city said in a news release Monday.

The MNR is currently classifying the fire as ‘being held.’

Public advised to avoid area

Residents may notice smoke in the area as suppression efforts continue and conditions may change depending on wind and weather.

“Members of the public are reminded to avoid the area to allow emergency crews to safely carry out their work,” the city said in its initial release Sunday.

Dry conditions prompt caution

With current dry conditions, Sault Fire Services reminded residents to use extra caution when burning outdoors.

“Any open-air burning must comply with the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Open Air Burning By-law,” the city said.

“Never leave a fire unattended, keep a means of extinguishment nearby and ensure all fires are completely extinguished before leaving the area.”

Residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary burning until conditions improve.

Sault Fire Services will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as additional information becomes available.