Greater Madawaska fire now deemed ‘under control’ as of Friday

Greater Madawaska Township Mayor Rob Weir appeared on Wake Up With Rob Snow on June 5, 2023. Listen to the full interview below.

The forest fire in the Greater Madawaska Township has now been deemed ‘under control’ as of Friday, June 9.

In an update, on Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said evacuations in four communities west of Calabogie have been lifted. 

Earlier in the week, the fire was considered “held”, meaning crews were monitoring the charred areas and proceeding with the clean-up stage.

On Monday, June 5, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said evacuations were underway near the fire zone, with the municipality extending the order until Friday.

The following areas were under a precautionary evacuation order:

1. Black Mountain Estates
2. Little Bay Lane
3. Airds Lake Rd
4. Sniders Tent & Trailer Park

The fire affected roughly 45 hectares of land, and crews worked around the clock to contain the flames.

The fire affected an area on the south shore of Centennial Lake in the Greater Madawaska area, approximately three kilometers south of Highway 17 across the lake and two kilometers north of Aird Lake, which is 82 kilometers west of the City of Ottawa. 

Greater Madawaska Mayor Rob Weir told CityNews’ Rob Snow on Tuesday, June 6, that he was so proud of how the community came together during a challenging time.

“Full support. I’ve had people from various Lions Clubs contacting me at 5:30 in the morning asking me what they could do. The fire services and volunteers all great, and the support we’ve received from other communities has also been wonderful.”

According to the mayor, hectares of prime wood forest had been damaged, but as of Tuesday, no personal structures have been affected.

The Greater Madawaska Fire Department was initially called to the area Sunday, June 4, around 5:30 p.m. for the fire, which started on an island in the lake before spreading to shore.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) warned some residents via Twitter on Sunday that they may have to evacuate due to a forest fire burning in the area.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) said the cause of this fire is unknown and remains under investigation. 

A level two fire ban was in effect for the area, which meant no fire of any kind was allowed.

Residents requiring assistance are asked to call 613-752-2261 or email cao@greatermadawaska.com.

A provincial forest fire update Sunday, June 4, said there were 34 out-of-control wildfires across Ontario’s northeast and northwest regions.

The province nearly matched its ten-year season average over the weekend with almost five months to go in the wildfire season.

— with files from the Canadian Press