Has the fire burning just to the west of WC spread into the park?

This link shows Manitoba fires and status. Manitoba forest fire info

No it has not.

I just read somewhere that a fire has reached a named lake in WC. It was a lake that I recognized, but I can't remember it.

It is the Red Lake fire #33 is in WC near Craven Lake, from the Ontario Parks Fire Restrictions page. It says that it is uncontrolled.

Where did you read that?

Oh, actually you may be right....one just popped up on my board....on the west end north of Craven Lake.

The link is in the first post by Bogwalker in the "Woodland Caribou Fire Restrictions in Effect" thread in this forum. The info is from todays report. Oddly enough I first heard of the fire the other day while in the Boundary Waters listening to "as it happens" on the radio.

The Craven Lk fire was just reported today and is being cared for. A significant amount of rain in the immediate forecast should help smother this and other fires.

Just met with Fire base rep in Red Lake. The small fire that popped yesterday has been actioned and is now under control.

Onward and upward

Claire, I remember in 2011 when there were fires raging across the north that the MNR fire page said that fires would not be controlled or put out in parks because there were no "values" to protect. Is it still the policy of the MNR that "values" stop at the park boundaries because they see little of economic value in the park forest? or, is it because the forest needs to burn to ensure its future health?

Some useful reading.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/woodland-caribou-signature-site-vegetation-management-plan#section-19

Fire serves a very important function in the Boreal forest. This is recognized widely now and even fires on the broader landscape are considered for "let burn" however more structural values may exist outside the park that warrant some fire suppression.

The link provided by goatroti is the place to go for detailed information regarding forest fires and suppression in Woodland Caribou Prov. Park. Within the park, there are a few camps that receive protection from the threat of forest fires. This is a given. Suppression may also happen near the edges of the park where a fire may potentially cross over into merchantable timber outside the park.

Of great value is the maintenance of prime caribou habitat. Biologist and park manager have to weigh in carefully and make decisions that will sustain our woodland caribou population, an endangered species that rely on the existence of old growth forest. Natural events such as wind storms, snow down, insect infestations, all benefit from natural fire. The impacted forest needs to renew and wildfire is Mother Nature's best approach to healing it. So we interfere very little.

Lastly, wilderness parks such as Woodland Caribou P.P. are managed with the aim of maintaining ecological integrity. It is best to let nature function freely where we can safely do so as it is all part of the nature cycles of the Boreal.