UPDATE @ 7 AM: Forest Fire #23 is now being held.
More than half a dozen forest fires have sprung up in Algonquin this week.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, six of the fires are burning in the northeastern section of the park, with the second-largest at 5.8 hectares in size.
That fire is Algonquin Park #23, located three kilometres north of Grand Lake. It is currently not under control, and three fire ranger crews are working on the blaze. Water bombers were used earlier in the week, on Sunday and Monday.
The ministry told the My Bancroft Now newsroom that all of the fires are being held or under control, with the exception of Algonquin #23. The largest is Algonquin Park #19, which is one kilometre west of Foys Lake and close to Swamp Lake. It is being held.
All the other fires are less than a hectare in size. They are located northeast of Pine Lake, between Booth Lake and Shirley Lake, east of Lee Lake and between Batise Creek and Gross Creek. Two fires are burning to the north and south of the park boundaries, but are listed as under control or held.
The ministry stated that there is currently no concern for the public from the fires, but if anyone in the park sees water bombers overhead while out on the lakes or rivers, they should make their way to the shore, and allow the bombers to complete their scoop.
None are near the Highway 60 corridor through Algonquin, and rain is expected to have an impact on all the fires over the next two days.
The causes of the fires are all under investigation, with no clear source as of this report.
Written with files from James Wood