Ignace in Kenora District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Maple Mountain Tower
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 11, 2022
1. Maple Mountain Tower Marker
On the afternoon of July 8th, 2018 a large wildland fire was detected by an aircraft that was enroute to another fire near the Temiskaming Shores, Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park. That fire turned out to be North Bay Fire #72. The lightning-caused fire was exhibiting extreme fire behavior and ultimately ended up growing to a size of 27,285 hectares. Firefighting resources from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Mexico were brought in to assist Ontario with suppressing this fire. Ontario shares wildland firefighting resources with other provinces every summer, depending on the weather and fire activity.
As you can see the Maple Mountain Fire Tower stood proud with its vertical rise over the surrounding landscape as the raging inferno ripped through the forest. A 3.2 kilometer hiking trail leads to the abandoned fire tower and is a popular spot for hiking, climbing and mountaineering.
Wildland Fire Management Strategy
The goals of the wildland fire management program are to:
prevent loss of human life and injury
prevent and mitigate losses alongside economic
this page online
promote understanding of the ecological role of fire
use fire to benefit resource management
In Ontario each wildland fire is assessed and receives an appropriate response based on the situation and condition of the fire. The ministry then:
responds as quickly as possible to fires posing an immediate threat to high values, such as communities or infrastructure
manages fires to limit negative impacts and costs when values are not threatened or when the environment could benefit
We all have a role in preventing wildland fires. By managing the vegetation and condition of our properties, we help protect public safety and reduce losses.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is July 8, 2018.
Location. 49° 24.97′ N, 91° 39.969′ W. Marker is in Ignace, Ontario, in Kenora District. It can be reached from Main Street (Trans-Canada Highway) (Provincial Highway 17) just west of West Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker and fire tower exhibit are located on the south side of the Ignace Public Library. Touch for map.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 11, 2022
2. Maple Mountain Tower Marker
Rightmost of two interpretive panels at this location.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario and specifically in Northwest Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of the Fire Tower (here, next to this marker); The Towerman (here, next to this marker); Mary Berglund (within shouting distance of this marker); Beech 18 (approx. half a kilometer away).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Maple Mountain (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
Maple Mountain is located within Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park, Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It ranks thirteenth, but when ranked by vertical rise it is the highest of the top 25 peaks in Ontario. The 100 ft abandoned fire tower is also still intact and attracts many hikers. The indigenous Temagami First Nation call the mountain Chee-bay-jing, meaning "the place where the spirits go" and consider it a sacred site. The English name of the mountain was given by Dr. Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1888. Bell was the first known non-aboriginal to scale the mountain.(Submitted on March 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. North Bay 72 Update. Excerpt:
(from The Temiskaming Speaker, August 10, 2018) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reports that fire rangers continue to work the perimeter of the fire. Crews continue to search for and find hotspots. Some smokes continue to show themselves as the area dries out after the recent rainfall. Travel restrictions in some areas around North Bay 72 have been eased but remain in place elsewhere. A detailed map is available at Ontario.ca/forestfire. Across the region, there are 47 active forest fires in the Northeast. Of these, 11 are not yet under control, 36 are either being held, under control or being observed.(Submitted on March 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 421 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 21, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
