Thunder Bay 36 Fire Remeasured at 301,240 Hectares as Mexican Crews Assist Rinker Lake Complex

Updated perimeter mapping put the Thunder Bay 36 fire, the largest in Ontario's recorded history, at 301,240 hectares as of Aug 24 — down from earlier estimates near 320,000 hectares — though it remains not under control. Firefighters from Ontario and Mexico continued hotspot suppression across the Rinker Lake Complex using helicopter bucket and belly-tank operations amid low fire activity. Elsewhere in the Atikokan cluster, Fort Frances 14 (51,768 ha) shifted to 'being held' while Fort Frances 15 (42,273 ha) and Dryden 35 (30,158 ha, revised upward) continued to be observed or burn out of control. The Northwest Region reported 64 active wildland fires — 5 not under control, 3 being held, 12 under control and 44 being observed — with two new small fires spotted near Rossport over the weekend.