Nine new forest fires in Northwestern Ontario

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is currently fighting or monitoring three dozen active forest fires across Northwestern Ontario.

Nine of these fires were discovered Sunday, including a 37-hectare blaze about 16 kilometres west of Ogoki Lake.

It's the largest of the new blazes, and is not under control.

Other outbreaks discovered in the Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Nipigon and Red Lake districts range in size from 0.1 hectare to six hectares.

The ministry on Sunday also updated its fire summary for Saturday, saying it had discovered four additional fires on Saturday evening.

The largest was an eight-hectare outbreak in the Red Lake district.

As of Sunday evening, the ministry reported 12 fires not under control, five fires being held, 14 fires under observation, and five fires under control.

The restricted fire zone that was declared over most of Northern Ontario on June 1 remains in effect.

Open-air burning, including campfires, is not permitted.

The current fire danger rating across the Northwest is mostly high.