Bog, forest fire in North Dundas shrinks, but still smoulders

OttawaA bog and forest fire in North Dundas, Ont., shrank to about one-tenth of its previous size overnight, and by Tuesday morning was mostly smouldering above and below ground, according to the township.Fire in Alvin Runnalls Forest south of Russell now covers about 4 hectares, down from 40CBC News · Posted: Sep 23, 2025 11:40 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 minutes agoBog, forest fire in North Dundas shrinks but could smoulder for monthsTony Fraser, mayor of North Dundas, says bog fires can last for months underground, but he’s hopeful the wet weather will help extinguish this one. A bog and forest fire in North Dundas, Ont., shrank to about one-tenth of its previous size overnight, and by Tuesday morning was mostly smouldering above and below ground, according to the township.The fire in the Alvin Runnalls Forest near Morewood, south of Russell, broke out Sunday night.It grew to about 40 hectares in area, but by Tuesday morning the township said it had shrunk to about four hectares thanks to the efforts of firefighters, who were aided by rain.The fire appears to have started in a bog and spread, according to North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser. He said the bog is full of peat, or partly decomposed plant material that burns when ignited.”Bog fires, they can last for months. They can go over winter and crop back up in spring. They’re underground and feed themselves,” he said Monday.On Tuesday crews will use equipment to open up the bogland and get water closer to potential underground hotspots, the township said.Fire Chief Kreg Raistrick told Radio-Canada the burnt turf is 40 centimetres deep in some places.Crews respond to a bog and forest fire in the Alvin Runnalls Forest in North Dundas, Ont., this week. (Township of North Dundas/Facebook)There have been no reported injuries and no buildings are considered at risk. The cause of the fire remains unknown.The area just concluded an extremely dry summer, Monday’s rain notwithstanding. The township has placed restrictions on outdoor fires and the local conservation authority has been asking residents to conserve water since early August.The fire is about 45 kilometres southeast of downtown Ottawa.