Brush fires keep crews busy in Thunder Bay, Ont., as conditions remain dry

A cluster of brush fires west of Thunder Bay, Ont., kept crews busy on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. 

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Platoon Chief Jo Rucchin said in a news release that the department began getting several 911 calls around 3 p.m. ET.  People were reporting fires "along the rail line extending from the Thunder Bay Airport area to beyond Twin City Crossroads."

"Thunder Bay Fire Rescue immediately deployed multiple pumper crews to respond to the fires, prioritizing the protection of residential properties along the affected corridor," the news release said. "Crews worked swiftly to contain and suppress multiple fire sites stretching from the Airport to Twin City Crossroads."

It took five hours to get the fires under control, with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue working with Ministry of Natural Resources crews and the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department. No homes or buildings were destroyed, according to the news release.

Ontario's Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) said CL415 waterbombers were used to help suppress a fire known as Thunder Bay 9, which was burning south of the airport.

'Fires can get away quickly'

One of the brush fires just north of Arthur Street West and 25th Side Road was not far from Sarjeant Propane supply company.

"Crews on scene right now are just mopping up," Shane Zimmer, captain with the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department, told CBC on the site of the fire around 8:30 p.m. ET.  

"We took a little while to get the whole fire shut down. But it looks like it's pretty much done now."   

Zimmer said he doesn't know how the fire started, and that it will be investigated. However, he said it's a good reminder to be extremely cautious right now.

"Fires can get away quite quickly," he said.

All of Oliver Paipoonge township is currently under a fire ban.

Road closures and cancellations 

Late in the afternoon, the Thunder Bay Police Service had advised people to avoid the Oliver Paipoonge municipality as crews responded to a fire between Arthur Street West and Highway 11/17. They were also asking people to avoid Arthur Street West between the 20th Side Road and the Highway 11/17 junction. 

Thunder City Speedway closed for the evening and rescheduled races for Thursday evening. 

Meanwhile, several large forest fires remain out of control in northwestern Ontario, with high to extreme conditions in some western parts of the province.