07/25/2026
Hi all. Here is some info we received from the MNR. We are part of a 3 cluster fire, Fort 14, 15 & 38 collectively referred to as the Atikokan cluster. Our fire is Fort 14.
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Current Fire Situation:
Firefighting operations added an influx of Alberta firefighters and crews from
Ontario’s Northeast Region on July 23, enhancing suppression capabilities on
Fort Frances 14 and 15.
Infrared scanning of fires in the Atikokan Cluster have begun. Fixed-wing aircraft
mounted with heat-sensing equipment fly patterns over a fire area in the cool
early morning hours to detect areas of remaining heat in the ground. These
‘hotspots’ are geo-located on maps that fire operations staff on the ground can
use to find and extinguish them. Infrared scans are particularly useful on deep-
burning fires such as those in the Atikokan Cluster – where field reports indicate
depth of burn up to 30 centimetres.
• Sasakatchewan-based Q-400 retardant tanker aircraft have been utilized near the north side of Fort Frances 14, dropping retardant barriers on strategic high-ground areas on Fort Frances 14’s northern flank, nearest the Trans-Canada highway.
On Fort Frances 14:
Crews with a specialized wildland fire engine are posted near Lac Des
Mille Lacs First Nation 22A1 establishing hoselines in areas near the
community and working into the interi Fire fighters are working with pumps and hose south of Panache Lake, in
the Honkonen Narrows area and along Fort Frances 14’s northern
perimeter.
Crews on the southwest side of the fire are establishing hoselines
northwards from Baril Lake.
Crews are supported by bucket-equipped helicopters, including several
‘heavy’ class machines with increased bucketing capacity.
Fort Frances 15:
Crews are arranged across the northern perimeter of the fire patrolling for
fire activity, establishing hoselines and utilizing helicopter buckets to
extinguish hotspots.
• Fort Frances 14 is 51,806 hectares in size. The fire’s status is not under control.
• Fort Frances 38, the 44.2 hectare fire near Crystal Lake and Hwy. 11, is under
control and was scanned for hot spots in the early morning hours. • Fort Frances 15 is 42,279 hectares. The fire’s status is not under control. There
has been no growth on the fire’s perimeter in the direction of major travel
corridors.
• Fort Frances 14’s southern perimeter is approximately 9 kilometres north of Hwy.
11 at its closest point near Baril Lake. Fort Frances 14’s northern perimeter is
approximately 5 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Hwy. east of Upsala at its
closest point.
• Fort Frances 15’s northern perimeter remains approximately 1.5 kilometres south of Hwy 11 at its closest point.
