Northwestern Ontario tourism officials are assessing the damage and requesting financial relief in the wake of a devastating, smoky forest fire season that has, as of July 23, forced the evacuation of more than a dozen communities — including 12 First Nations.
As of late July, 146 active wildfires covering more than 500,000 hectares were being tracked — 53 were uncontrolled, five were being held, seven were under control, and 81 were being observed.
Evacuation orders were given to the region on the north and northwest shores of Lake Nipigon as well as an area north of Highway 11 extending to the southwest shores of Lac DeMille Lac and Bevidere Lake. Several more implementation orders that restrict travel and evacuation alerts were issued in the Thunder Bay, Dryden, Atikokan, and Fort Frances and districts.
Late July rain events have helped to make conditions more favourable for FireRanger crews and helicopters and heavy equipment operators assigned to suppression efforts, but fires were still threatening communities, wildlife, and travel routes.
About 24 tourism outfitters have been impacted directly by the fires and, of those, 12 have lost structures that will seriously impact their business, Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association (NOTO) Executive Director Laurie Marcil said.
That that number will probably rise since many outfitters or business were evacuated ahead of advancing fires and do not know the extent of damage to their businesses yet – and will not know until they are allowed to return, she added.
Many lodges, cottages, and outfitters not near the fire also lost business due to cancellations because of the smoke created by the fire, Marcil pointed out. The good news, she said, is no lives are known to have been lost in the fires.
“NOTO is now assessing the needs and talking to appropriate government agencies about relief funding and future funds for recovery,” she said. “We need to know, if this is the new norm, how do we all prepare for the future.”
She also wanted hunters and anglers to know that many parts of the northwest are untouched and still open for business. “We will need your business in the future.”
Sunset Country Travel Association Executive Director Gerry Cariou said, “The best thing to do, if you have booked a lodge or an outfitter is call them prior to going, to confirm whether they can still accommodate you. If you have not booked but want to visit, go to the Sunset County Travel Association’s website (www.visitsunsetcountry.com) or contact us, for up-date information.”
