Forest Fire Season Heats up in Kenora District

What a difference a week makes.

After a slow start to the forest fire season, the Kenora District has seen a rash of blazes over the past couple of days.

Fire information officer Debbie McLean says they've responded to five blazes in the past two days, all of the which have been human caused.

McLean says a fire about 10 kilometers from the Kenora Airport is listed as being held today, after it grew to over six hectares yesterday.

Taxes Going Up in Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

Its going to cost more to pay your property taxes in Sioux Narrows/Nestor
Falls this year.

The town council approved a 3 percent increase in the mill rate in 2013.

Mayor Bill Thompson says they wanted to to be able to put more money into
reserves this year.

Thompson says the mill rate also reflects the increased cost of paying for
the Kenora District Services Board.

Rickford Oversees Evacuations

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is in Kapuskasing today on behalf of the Prime Minister overseeing the evacuation of flood victims from Kashechewan First Nation.

600 people have been forced from their home and have been relocated to Thunder Bay, Kapuskasing and Cornwall.

Rickford says it's been a fairly smooth transition.

Rickford says it's not yet known how long the evacuation order will remain in place.

Kenora Not Expecting Flood Evacuees

The City of Kenora has not been asked to be an evacuation center for residents from the  far north displaced by flooding.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says no requests have been made so far.

Last year, Kenora agreed to be an evacuation center after wild fires forced hundreds of
people from their homes in remote first nation communities.

So far evacuees have been sent to Cornwall, Sudbury, Kapuskasing and Thunder Bay.

Firefly Celebrates Children's Mental Health Week

Firefly is celebrating Children Mental Health Week.

Jackie Mitchell is the board chair and Firefly and says they have one big initiative this week to raise awareness about mental health.

Mitchell encourages anyone who takes part in the challenge to send pictures to Firefly.

More information on mental health week is posted on the news section of 895 the lake.ca.

Health Unit Issues Water Advisory in Red Lake

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising residents in the Red Lake area about the potential of heavy metals in well water.

Due to the mining developments in the area, heavy metals are found also in the soil.

The health unit encourages residents to sample water to test, treat or not drink water that contains heavy metals and avoid tailings and slimes for play areas.

NorWOSSA Soccer Season Starts Today in Fort Frances

The short NorWOSSA double "a" soccer season gets underway today in Fort Frances.

Both the Beaver Brae boys and girls teams will be on the road for games against the Muskies and the Dryden Eagles.

The games will act as a warm-up for this weekend's soccer tournament being hosted by Beaver Brae at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

Thomas Aquinas begins its Single A soccer season next week.