Forest fires
Find information about the current danger, activity and fire restrictions of forest fires and grass and brush fires across Ontario.
Restricted Fire Zone in effect
A Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) is in effect for the Northwest Region and a small portion of the Northeast Region. Learn more about the current RFZ boundaries and restrictions.
Report a fire
To report a wildland fire (including grass, brush and forest fires) call
South of the French and Mattawa rivers call 911.
Call or text 2-1-1
Ontarians impacted by wildland fires can call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca to get non-emergency info about available supports and services.
Interactive fire map
Real time updates.
Our interactive map visually shows active fires, current fire danger across the province and restricted fire zones in effect.
The map now shows perimeters for some fires over 40 hectares in size. Note that not all fires are mapped and perimeters are not updated every day (may differ from the size reported in the table).
Most of the data used in the Interactive Map is available on Ontario GeoHub.
We recommend using Google chrome as your web browser to access the map.
Forest fire updates
- Northeast Region
- Northwest Region
- Fires of note
- Evacuation Orders
- Implementation Orders
- Evacuation Alerts
Northeast Region
Updated: August 18, 2026 at 6:20 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
One new wildland fire was confirmed in the Northeast Region today:
- North Bay 38 (NOR038) was 0.1 of a hectare and located next to Highway 522, approximately 0.2 of a kilometre west of North Road and 0.25 of a kilometre south of Sturdies Lake. The fire is out.
There are currently 41 active wildland fires in the Northeast Region. Of these fires: 1 is not under control, 1 is being held, 1 is under control and 38 are being observed.
To access the current forest fire danger rating in your area visit our interactive fire map.
Northwest Region
Updated: August 18, 2026 at 6:13 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT).
There were 2 new wildland fires confirmed in the Northwest Region by the evening of August 18.
- Kenora 30 (KEN030) is located near Highway 17, approximately 2 kilometers south of McConnell Lake. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
- Kenora 31 (KEN031) is located near the south end of Ord Lake, approximately 17 kilometers east of Highway 105. The 0.1-hectare fire is not under control.
At the time of this update there are 78 active wildland fires in the Northwest Region. Of those fires, 9 are not under control, 3 are being held, 10 are under control and 56 are being observed.
To access the current forest fire danger rating in your area visit our interactive fire map.
Fires of note
The Rinker Lake Complex - Thunder Bay 36 (THU036), Dryden 34 (DRY034), Dryden 35 (DRY035)
- Wildland fire activity across the Complex remains low.
- 30 FireRangers crews – made up of personnel from Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Mexico.
- Fourteen helicopters are dedicated to the Rinker Lake Complex.
- FireRanger crews continued to clear hotspots across the complex, finding some areas with considerable heat. However, long stretches of the perimeter have now been cleared and rechecked, with no heat or hotspots detected.
- THU036 is currently measuring 301,240 hectares and remains not under control.
- DRY034 is currently measuring 45,800 hectares and remains not under control.
- DRY035 is currently measuring 30,201 hectares and remains not under control.
Atikokan Cluster - Fort Frances 13 (FOR013), Fort Frances 14 (FOR014), Fort Frances 15 (FOR015)
- Crews continue to seek out and extinguish hotspots identified by infrared scans and demobilize equipment from areas where the fire perimeter has been contained. Helicopters are being utilized for crew and equipment movement as well as bucketing support as required.
- Recent rainfall has helped keep fire behaviour to a minimum.
- FOR013 is currently measuring 25,313 hectares and remains being observed.
- FOR014 is currently measuring 51,768 hectares and remains not under control.
- FOR015 is currently measuring 42,273 hectares and remains not under control.
Evacuation Orders
Evacuation Order revoked - Thunder Bay 36 & 56, Dryden 34 & 35
Effective 9:00am Eastern Daylight Time on August 20, 2026, the Evacuation Order around active wildland fires Thunder Bay 36 & 56 and Dryden 34 & 35 will be revoked. Once lifted, travel and use of roads and lakes in this area will be available.
As a reminder, entering the restricted area before restrictions are lifted could result in fines or penalties. It can also put firefighters and other personnel at risk as they continue working to prepare the area for residents to return safely.
Review the Evacuation Order Map here.
For more information, please call
*Due to the high volume of calls, a representative from the MNR Thunder Bay - Ignace District will return your call as soon as possible.
Ontarians impacted by wildland fires can call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca to get non-emergency info about available supports and services.
Implementation Orders
Restrictions revoked - Thunder Bay 36 & 56 and Dryden 34 & 35
Effective 9:00am Eastern Daylight Time on August 20, 2026, the Implementation Order around active wildland fires Thunder Bay 36 & 56 and Dryden 34 & 35 will be revoked. Once lifted, travel and use of roads and lakes in this area will be available.
As a reminder, entering the restricted area before restrictions are lifted could result in fines or penalties. It can also put firefighters and other personnel at risk as they continue working to prepare the area for residents to return safely.
Review the Implementation Order map here
For more information on this Implementation Order, please call
Evacuation Alerts
Evacuation Alert lifted - Fort Frances 39 & Minnesota’s ‘Thumb Fire’
The evacuation alert had been issued by Dryden Fort Frances Atikokan District for the area around active wildland fire Fort Frances 39 and Minnesota’s ‘Thumb Fire’ has been lifted effective 4:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time on August 18, 2026.
Wildland fire suppression activities are ongoing on for this fire, but public safety relating to this fire is no longer a concern. Residents and visitors should continue to remain aware of local conditions and follow any direction provided by local authorities or emergency officials.
For more information on this evacuation alert, please call
NOTAM - Thunder Bay 36
There is currently a NOTAM in the area of wildland fire Thunder Bay 36.
This is over and above the standard airspace restrictions imposed by Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) which state that the airspace around all active forest fires is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only, specifically airspace within 5 nautical miles, up to an altitude of 3000 feet above ground level.
Pilots are reminded that NOTAMs concerning forest fires can be found on NavCanada’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services under the ‘Weather and NOTAM’ tab, when flight planning.
NOTAM - Fort Frances 14
There is currently a NOTAM in the area of wildland fire Fort Frances 14, northeast of Byers Lake.
This is over and above the standard airspace restrictions imposed by Section 601.15 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) which state that the airspace around all active forest fires is restricted to forest fire suppression aircraft only, specifically airspace within 5 nautical miles, up to an altitude of 3000 feet above ground level.
Pilots are reminded that NOTAMs concerning forest fires can be found on NavCanada’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services under the ‘Weather and NOTAM’ tab, when flight planning.
Restricted fire zones
Northeast Region Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) - Revoked effective August 20
The Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) in place for the Northwest Region and a small portion of the Northeast Region will be revoked, effective Thursday, August 20 at 12:01 a.m. local time.
The Ministry of Natural Resources would like to thank Ontarians and visitors for doing their part to help prevent wildland fires and keep communities safe. Please continue to use extreme caution and follow Ontario’s Outdoor Fires Regulations when having an outdoor fire.
The province will continue to assess wildland fire hazard conditions, and an RFZ designation may be reinstated in higher risk areas if the fire hazard and fire activity warrants it.
If your municipality has also imposed a fire ban, you must comply with both the restricted fire zone (RFZ) and municipal fire ban.
Contact information
Call or text 2-1-1
Ontarians impacted by wildland fires can call or text 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca to get non-emergency info about available supports and services.
Northeast Region
Monitored 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Evan Lizotte
Fire Information Officer
Northwest Region
Monitored 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Victoria Lee
Fire Information Officer
Atikokan Cluster (FOR014, FOR015, FOR038)
Alison Bezubiak
Fire Information Officer
Brown Incident Management Team
For exemption permit information, please call
Thunder Bay 36
Alison Lake
Fire Information Officer
Perin Incident Management Team
For exemption permit information, please call
Social media
Check out our Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts for safety tips and other wildland fire related information.
For highway conditions, including road closures, call
For air quality in your area, visit:
public weather alerts for Canada
For smoke drift conditions across North America, visit:
smoke drift across North America
For information about wildland fire smoke and your health, consult:
smoke and your health
Ontario's fire season starts April 1
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services reminds the public that outdoor fire rules are in effect throughout Ontario’s legislated fire season, which runs from April 1 to October 31. To dispose of yard waste and woody debris, we encourage the use of alternatives such as composting or utilizing your local landfill. If you must burn, use caution and follow the rules outlined in Ontario’s Wildland Fire Management regulation.
Fires are to be ignited no sooner than 2 hours before sunset and extinguished no later than 2 hours after sunrise. Always ensure you have adequate tools and water available to contain the fire at the site. Know the rules for safe outdoor burning. Read the full set of outdoor fire rules.
Residents within municipal boundaries must also check with their local fire department for burning restrictions or permitting requirements prior to burning.
Wildland Fire Management Act
Effective April 1, several regulatory changes come into effect as a result of updates to the Wildland Fire Management Act. These amendments will help to ensure greater awareness of rules designed to prevent unwanted human-caused fires and include:
- A new Ontario Regulation 44/26 (Administrative Penalties) to establish a framework for issuing administrative monetary penalties for contraventions of the Act or its regulations, generally before a wildland fire has occurred.
- Replacing the Outdoor Fires regulation with the Ontario Regulation 43/26 (Wildland Fire Management) to clarify, streamline, and reduce permit requirements.
- Amendments to the existing cost recovery regulation.
- Updates to short form wordings in an existing regulation.
These amendments will help modernize wildland fire management and protect Ontario communities throughout current and future wildland fire seasons. To learn more about the updates now in effect, keep an eye out for our social media posts this month or visit the Wildland Fire Management Act webpage found on e-Laws.
Learn more about the regulations.
- Ontario Regulation 44/26 (Administrative Penalties)
- Ontario Regulation 43/26 (Wildland Fire Management)
Fires: year to date
These figures represent the year-to-date total number of wildland fires inside Ontario’s fire region for the 2026 fire season, as they compare to the 2025 season and to the 10-year average.
- 739fires in 2026
- 490fires in 2025
- 60410-year average
Fire bans in provincial parks
For all park fire bans visit:
Ontario parks alerts
You are responsible for fires you light
From April through October, people using outdoor fires must follow strict guidelines under the Wildland Fire Management Act of Ontario to ensure their fires are properly managed.
Anyone who starts a fire outdoors must take all necessary steps to tend the fire, keep it under control and make sure the fire is out before leaving the site. A person failing to burn safely could be fined and held responsible for the cost of putting out the fire. People living in municipalities should check with local fire officials for bylaws on outdoor fires.
Hunters
- Check the interactive fire map to find out where the active wildland fires are in Ontario.
- Be aware of FireRangers who may be working in wildland areas.
- Check your surroundings for FireRanger activity before discharging your firearm to help keep everyone safe.
About Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES)
Visit our forest, wildland and outdoor fires page for more information on AFFES and wildland fire management, including: