Several small new fires begin in Quetico as larger fires continue

WDIO-TV
One of the fires burning in Quetico Provincial Park[Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry]

Three small new fires have been reported in Quetico Provincial Park as five larger fires continue to burn in the park along the Ontario-Minnesota border.

The new fires that started Thursday have only burned a combined total of one hectare (2.5 acres), and one of the three was already declared to be out by Friday.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s fire map, Quetico’s largest fire is Fort Frances 35, which has burned 45,712 hectares (112,957 acres) since beginning June 9. Another fire, Fort Frances 55, has burned 4,435 hectares (10,959 acres) since July 4.

The Quetico fires have sent smoke into Minnesota and have been cited as one of the concerns that led to the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The largest Quetico fire is still only the fourth-largest of the 81 active fires in northwestern Ontario as of Friday. The largest, burning northwest of Kenora, has burned 200,667 hectares (495,859 acres).