Fire ban starting in Q tomorrow 6/1
Fire Ban Information

Came out 5/29. Last few days was scary dry with wind and 80s. Figured this was coming.

we came out 6/4 and saw the signs. we were on Jean and got a couple of inches of rain while we were in there. still very dry but that helped a lot.

How was the fishing on Jean?

Another summer with lots of fires across Ontario. I know most are in the southeast right now, but the map shows a couple up north, including one near Kenora. Goodness. I know there are lots of people that appreciate the importance of the fire-cycle but so much of the park burned two summers ago. It is sad, to me, to imagine that more might burn this summer.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated..

My group and I will be heading into Quetico in about a week.. With a fire ban currently in effect and little to no rain in the forecast, we are not anticipating the ban to be lifted.

We do most of our cooking on stoves, so we are not too worried about that. The main drawback would be sitting around the campfire at night and the benefit of the campfire smoke warding off mosquitos.

Are we over thinking it? What have your experiences been camping during a fire ban?

Have you ever used a beg tent? With a group, these can be incredibly useful and worth the weight (in bug season).

I have not, thank you for the suggestion.

It looks like this could be worth the weight/space..

Quest 12' x 12' Screen House

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/quest-12-x-12-screen-house-16queu12x12scrnhsodr/16queu12x12scrnhsodr?sku=14472681&camp=CSE:DSG_92700073002459489_lia_pla-4582764501300415_58700008025671488_71700000100263851&gclid=fc1e5545d8fa12826f4b313ae1cc6e52&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=fc1e5545d8fa12826f4b313ae1cc6e52

I just put this into a link so that others could more easily check it out: bug house

A Nemo Bugout will be about half the weight, 1/3 if you go with a 9x9'. Currently bugs are as bad as I've experienced for days on end without relief (moved to Ely in '88).

CCS Bug Shelters are the way to go if you have the funds.

Frenchy19: "CCS Bug Shelters are the way to go if you have the funds. "

If you have the funds! A much better solution to the problem.

Banksiana: "A Nemo Bugout will be about half the weight, 1/3 if you go with a 9x9'. Currently bugs are as bad as I've experienced for days on end without relief (moved to Ely in '88). "

We were in from 5/24 to 6/2. Bugs were as bad as I have ever seen, though I usually avoid early June for that reason.

Nemo Bugout 9x9 was critical. Having the ability to get a break from the flying leeches was important for the sanity of 5 guys and a dog.

campnfish: "How was the fishing on Jean?"

stellar as usual

Leaving for Quetico on June 16. You guys have convinced me. Just ordered a Nemo Bugout 12x12. I experienced horrendous black flies on only one trip, back in 1999. If they're that bad this time, hopefully the shelter will help, especially with the fire ban in place.

Eureka No Bug Zone is another good option, affordable and light. Very similar to Nemo. Our last Nemo had catastrophic failures so we switched.

mgraber: " Eureka No Bug Zone is another good option, affordable and light. Very similar to Nemo. Our last Nemo had catastrophic failures so we switched."

Same here. No issues with the Eureka. Really reliable.

One thing I've heard is that a major diff between the two is that the Eureka has the floor lapels unlike the the Nemo. Those are perfect if you're on hard ground as you can anchor your corners and doors with the rocks as stakes will be useless.

If you're a hammock user you can use the Eureka as a tarp as it has double zippers to join against your suspension strap. Nemo may have this feature too but I don't know.

Argo: "

mgraber: " Eureka No Bug Zone is another good option, affordable and light. Very similar to Nemo. Our last Nemo had catastrophic failures so we switched."

Same here. No issues with the Eureka. Really reliable.


One thing I've heard is that a major diff between the two is that the Eureka has the floor lapels unlike the the Nemo. Those are perfect if you're on hard ground as you can anchor your corners and doors with the rocks as stakes will be useless.


If you're a hammock user you can use the Eureka as a tarp as it has double zippers to join against your suspension strap. Nemo may have this feature too but I don't know."

I own both 9x9 Nemo and Eureka CT-11. Eureka is in general more robust and better build (zippers, ground flaps) however there is notably less vertical space in the Eureka and it is more difficult to sustain center height in the set up.

Making my first trip into Quetico in a few weeks. If the area receives sufficient rain between now and then is there a chance that the ban gets lifted or is this a situation where once the ban is in place it is going to be there for the duration of the season?

Thanks

kenpark23: "Making my first trip into Quetico in a few weeks. If the area receives sufficient rain between now and then is there a chance that the ban gets lifted or is this a situation where once the ban is in place it is going to be there for the duration of the season?
Thanks "

I would guess the fire ban won’t be lifted soon. It will take a lot of rain to soak the dry forests up there. Fire bans also depend on the available fire fighting resources of the region/country, and I’m guessing many of the fire fighters and fire fighting resources will continue to be tied up. Other people may have more updated and certainly more expert opinions than mine though.

Jumping into the bug protection topic, a backpacker thermacell can screw onto an isobutane fuel container and really dampen the mosquitos remarkably after it gets going. Made our early June trip much more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been. Lighter than a bug net, and easier to set up. Less effective against flies, but very effective against mosquitos.

Reporting back- the Nemo Bugout 12x12 was awesome. Seemed to be a very quality piece of equipment. We'll see how it holds up over time. Thanks to you guys for the recommendations.

FYI the Ranger at Prairie Portage said they would be very conservative about lifting the fire ban. It might be awhile yet, maybe even all summer.

I talked to Camp Quetico today and they thought the Q fire ban would be in place for most of the summer if not all of it. Certainly not soon.

T

timatkn: "I talked to Camp Quetico today and they thought the Q fire ban would be in place for most of the summer if not all of it. Certainly not soon.


T"

The different regions and counties throughout Ontario will impose and lift fire bans according to their own assessments. This year seems to be a year unlike no other I have ever witnessed. There has been a ban in effect for some time in our cottage area of Trent Lakes about a two-hour drive northeast of Toronto even though there has been plenty of rain, water levels are at their highest level and everything is lush and green. There was even a heavy rain on Thursday but the ban remains in effect. Fireworks were banned on Canada Day July 1.

I believe this is related to the smoke conditions from fires burning in NE ON and Quebec. These are the same fires that burn every year that are generally left to burn as they occur in unpopulated areas. The only thing that has changed is the wind direction that has sent the smoke south instead of east and caught the attention of the international media.

NW ON is very far from southern ON and conditions there can be completely incongruous. I believe it has been drier in Quetico and after the great conflagration two summers ago, they probably are taking no chances. If the authorities in southern ON possess elevated sensitivity to normally non-hazardous conditions in their areas, and if this is the prevailing attitude province-wide, I think it will take rains of biblical proportions to change the minds of authorities who manage the parks to lift the fire bans.

I’m headed into Agnes on Sunday. With regards to the air quality due to the fires, anyone know if it is noticeable or no different than you can tell from prior trips?

I'm good with a ban when it is even moderately dry. Let's err on the cautious side. Too many people are careless, even if they believe they are not. I'm going in mid September and assume there will be a ban then. It's all ok. Burners work great for food and coffee!!!

PatrickE: "I’m headed into Agnes on Sunday. With regards to the air quality due to the fires, anyone know if it is noticeable or no different than you can tell from prior trips?"

There was a noticeable blueish haze over the lakes and hills and you could smell the burned wood in the air.

Agree! A camp fire is great, and although can be a pain to cook over in the Q it will be missed, but Id rather see fire conditions improve than take any risks. One less task to do too.

Fire ban lifted as of 4 PM Local time today! Just spoke to park ranger.

Yep, no fire ban listed for Quetico Provincial Park anymore! I just cancelled my BWCA Saganaga permit for Sunday and am heading up to Kawnipi instead.

I can’t imagine a fire ban making me choose to go BWCA instead of Quetico ever! I’m a little jaded now though but don’t ever want to do the open campsite competitions again!

That being said I think we only had a campfire one time in thirteen nights in the Quetico last year. Didn’t have one in the BWCA last year either in eleven nights. Probably won’t much even if it’s open up in Wabakimi in August this year either. Weird part is when I’m at a state park campsite we have a fire every night.

Ryan

unshavenman: "Yep, no fire ban listed for Quetico Provincial Park anymore! I just cancelled my BWCA Saganaga permit for Sunday and am heading up to Kawnipi instead."

Thinking about doing this in September. What's your route, Falls Chain?

campnfish: "

unshavenman: "Yep, no fire ban listed for Quetico Provincial Park anymore! I just cancelled my BWCA Saganaga permit for Sunday and am heading up to Kawnipi instead."

Thinking about doing this in September. What's your route, Falls Chain? "

Yep, we're getting a tow through Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to Hook Island and then on to Kawnipi through the Falls Chain. I'm looking forward to getting into some blue walleye. We did seven nights in the Argo/McAree area a month ago and had pretty good luck there.