Morning News – July 21

Weather

A mix of sun and cloud. High 24. UV index 8 or very high.
Tonight – Increasing cloudiness early this evening. Low 12.

 

Status of COVID-19cases in Algoma

There are four active cases of COVID-19 in the Algoma District today (Sault Ste. Marie and Area).

Immunization Uptake and Coverage in Algoma (Last updated: 10:15 AM, July 19, 2021)

Doses administered to Algoma residents

Total doses administered – 140,149
# of people who are fully vaccinated – 59,287
# of people who have received at least 1 dose – 80,862

70.7% has received at least one dose
79.7% (aged 12+) has received at least one dose
58.5% (aged 12+) are fully vaccinated (received two doses)

 

Northeast Forest Fire Region

Waw007 – 0.1ha, out (Cameron Lake)
WAW008 – 2.8ha (up from 1ha), being held (north of Beeline Lake, east of Killala Lake)
WAW009 – 4.2ha (same as on the 19th) 0.1ha, not under control (west of Eric Lake, Hwy 614)
WAW010 – 2.7ha (just south of WAW007 (Cameron Lake) – A CL415 waterbomber and lead birddog aircraft were on the scene of this 0.9 of a hectare fire. It remains not yet under control at the time of this update (Monday 19, 2021).

WAW11 – 0.1ha (30km east of Marathon) – Out

Active Fires	Not Under Control	Held	Under Control	Observed
15	1	1	6	7

The fire hazard is mostly low across the region today with some areas in the far north showing a high hazard today.

 

Northwest Forest Fire Region

Active Fires	Not Under Control	Held	Under Control	Observed
155	77	12	20	46

 

The wildland fire hazard is high to extreme in the southern Nipigon and Thunder Bay districts as well as areas of Red Lake, Dryden and Sioux Lookout districts. The rest of the region is low to moderate following scattered amounts of rain.

There have been three First Nation communities affected by forest fire smoke: Poplar Hill First Nation and Deer Lake First Nation (evacuated) and Pikangikum First Nation which are ongoing evacuation. 2,582 evacuees are being hosted in Thunder Bay, Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Dryden, Sudbury, Sioux Lookout, Timmins and Cornwall.

ON511 continues to warn that along Hwy 105 (north of Ear Falls and Red Lake area), visibility can be reduced due to smoke from nearby forest fires. Please make sure your headlights are on and use caution travelling Hwy 105 northerly to Red Lake.

Restricted Fire Zone boundaries updated to include Thunder Bay and portions of Nipigon and Wawa districts

Due to high to extreme forest fire hazard conditions, effective 12:01 a.m. Saturday, July 10, the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry has issued updated boundaries for a Restricted Fire Zone in the Kenora, Fort Frances, Dryden and Thunder Bay Districts and portions of the Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Nipigon and Wawa Districts.  The Restricted Fire Zone will be in effect until further notice. Outdoor fires are banned. Portable gas stoves may still be used BUT must be handled with extreme care.

 

News Tidbits:

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler tweeted last night “More new fires reported in our region today. North Spirit Lake and Cat Lake getting ready to evacuate their vulnerable citizens.” In response to that need, 100 vulnerable residents from North Spirit Lake will be hosted in Sault Ste. Marie. They are expected to arrive this afternoon in the Soo. Grand Chief Fiddler has invited Premier Doug Ford to visit, see the damage, and issue a state of emergency.

A huge congratulations to former Wawa residents Jason & Dawn Lebrun. Yesterday, Sault MPP Ross Romano and Luke Dufour, chair of the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB) presented them with the keys to their new home. A new program in the Soo takes homes in need of repair. Those repairs are done by Sault College students who are gaining building and maintenance skills while renovating, then the homes are then purchased by families who live in rent-geared-to-income housing, with social services guaranteeing the mortgage for the first five years.