Wildfire burning near Quetico, approximately 15 miles from Saganaga Lake and Gunflint Trail area

Update: As of August 4 at 9 a.m., fire officials in Ontario told WTIP the 200 acre ‘Thunder Bay 40’ wildfire was showing minimal signs of growth. There are seven Ontario ground crews working to control the fire, in addition to aerial suppression efforts. The fire, burning on Crown land in Ontario, showed minimal fire behavior Thursday night into Friday morning, according to information shared with WTIP Friday morning. There have been no injuries reported from the fire. There are also no threats to public safety or any communities in Ontario or the U.S. at this time, according to a fire information officer for the Northwest Division of Ontario Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services.

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A wildfire approximately 200 acres in size is currently burning east of Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. The fire is approximately 15 miles from Saganaga Lake, a massive body of water located at the end of the Gunflint Trail.

The fire is “not under control” at this time, according to the Ontario Forest Fire and Emergency Services branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Alison Bezubiak, a fire information officer for the Northwest Division of Ontario Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services, told WTIP Thursday afternoon that aerial suppression has been taking place over the course of the day with Ontario CL-415 waterbombers. There are also fire crews on site supporting ground suppression efforts, she said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, according fire officials in Canada.

Smoke from the fire, known at this time only as “Thunder Bay 40,” settled over most of the WTIP listening area Thursday morning and intensified throughout the day. The fire was first located Wednesday, Aug. 2, according to the Forest Fire Information Map provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Bezubiak told WTIP the fire “was confirmed in the evening hours of August 2.”

Temperatures were in the low 80s at the end of the Gunflint Trail Thursday afternoon. Winds were out of the northwest at 10 mph, with gusts up to 15 mph.

Saganaga is located partially inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Joe Friedrichs August 3, 2023