Coordinated effort for Kenora 51 Kenora 51 has been described as one of the largest fires ever fought in this region. We extend an enormous thanks to those who work tirelessly to protect lives, land and property. BY LEANNE FOURNIER Chris Marchand is the Fire Information Officer for Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) and Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES), the forest fire management branch of NDMNRF. He answered our questions about the monstrous blaze that had a profound impact on the summer of 2021.
Can you describe what contributed to the start and then spread of Kenora 51? Kenora 51 was discovered on June 8, 2021, north of Eden Lake in the remote Eagle/Snowshoe Provincial Park. An investigation into the cause of Kenora 51 is ongoing. By June 11, amidst a rapidly escalating regional fire situation in Northwestern Ontario, Kenora 51 had grown to 22,252 hectares in size. As a heat wave persisted into July, the fire continued to expand its perimeter in all directions as fire hazard and drought conditions increased to levels not seen by AFFES fire officials in 50 years. Energized by high winds, low humidity and very dry forest fuels, the extreme fire behaviour and fast rates of spread exhibited by Kenora 51 initially presented too many risks to put crews on the ground, limiting suppression options to waterbombers (CL-415) and helicopters equipped with buckets. Crews placed sprinkler systems on remote properties in the path of the fire, where it was safe and feasible to do so.
Was it just NDMNRF or were other local fire departments involved in the effort? AFFES officials were in frequent contact with the Manitoba Wildfire Service who mounted suppression and values protection efforts as the fire crossed the provincial boundary into Manitoba. While the Kenora 51 fire area is somewhat isolated from an Ontario context, the fire was a concern to cottage subdivisions at Davidson Lake and Beresford Lake on the Manitoba side of the provincial boundary.
When did you assess the need for additional help—how did that occur? The need for additional help from out-of-province was apparent early in the season as a growing list of problematic fires of concern to various communities was accompanied by 15 to 50 new fire starts per day throughout late June into July—fully engaging our initial attack firefighting resources. Resource sharing between different fire management jurisdictions is a common occurrence in a busy fire season. The province has mutual aid agreements with other provinces and international partners that allow for the movement of wildland firefighting resources to where they are needed the most. For example, Ontario firefighting personnel answered Australia’s call for assistance during the winter of 2020. Mexican firefighters also came to Ontario in 2018 when the fire situation was escalated on the Northeast side of the province.
Title photo: A B212 helicopter equipped with a belly tank releases a water drop during operation on Kenora 51, Aug. 15. Photo courtesy AFFES.
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In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Winter 2021
