Pascoe's at Baril Bay

08/03/2026

We've received the latest wildfire update from the Ministry of Natural Resources, and while there still isn't an update specific to our camp, there are a few encouraging developments.

Fort Frances 14 continues to be listed as not under control, but the Ministry reports that the fire has been exhibiting relatively low fire behavior and has not grown or moved toward major travel corridors in recent weeks. Fire crews continue working in the Baril Lake area, extinguishing hotspots within the fire perimeter with support from helicopters.

One encouraging sign is that the Ministry has begun easing access restrictions in some areas as conditions allow. While those changes don't yet include our route into Baril Bay, we're hopeful it's another step in the right direction and that our opportunity to return may not be too far away.

Like many of you, we're anxious to get back to camp and see everything with our own eyes. Until then, we'll continue to respect the restrictions in place and wait for the all-clear.

Our sincere thanks go out to the firefighters, pilots, emergency personnel, Ministry staff, and everyone working tirelessly to protect the people, communities, and forests of Northwestern Ontario. We know this has been an enormous effort, and we are deeply grateful for all that you continue to do.

One thing we've been reminded of throughout all of this is to appreciate the unexpected gifts. Normally, Jim spends nearly the entire summer at camp, but this year we've had the chance to enjoy far more time than usual with our kids and grandkids. While we certainly wish the circumstances were different, those moments together have been a blessing in the middle of an otherwise difficult season.

And as always, thank you to everyone who continues to check in, send messages, and keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Your kindness has carried us through these past few weeks, and we look forward to the day we can finally share an update from the dock at Baril Bay.

❤️ Jim & Krista

07/26/2026

No updates other than Cedar is missing the waters of Lac des Mille Lacs at Baril Bay. The shores of Lake Superior will have to do in the meantime. Counting down the days, hours, and minutes until we can return!

07/25/2026

A quick update from Baril Bay...

The Ministry's latest newsletter didn't include any new information specific to our camp, but there are a few encouraging updates regarding Fort Frances 14.

Fire crews have begun using infrared scanning technology to locate hidden hotspots beneath the surface, allowing them to target areas of lingering heat that can't be seen with the naked eye.

Additional firefighters have also arrived from Alberta and Northeastern Ontario, and crews continue working around Lac des Mille Lacs, the northern perimeter of the fire, and the Baril Lake area. Helicopters remain active in supporting those efforts.

While Fort Frances 14 is still classified as not under control, it's encouraging to see the continued progress and resources being dedicated to the fire.

Like many of you, we're anxious to get back to camp and see everything with our own eyes. Until the evacuation order and access restrictions are lifted, we'll continue to wait patiently and respect the decisions being made to keep everyone safe.

Our sincere thanks go out to the firefighters, pilots, emergency personnel, and all of the agencies working around the clock to protect the people, communities, and beautiful forests of Northwestern Ontario. We know this has been an enormous undertaking, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they're doing.

And as always, thank you to everyone who continues to check in on us, send encouraging messages, and keep us in your thoughts. We can't wait for the day we can share a firsthand update from Baril Bay.

❤️ Jim & Krista

07/22/2026

It's been a few days since our last update, and the reason is pretty simple...there really hasn't been one.

The Ministry continues to report that there are still fires in the area that are not under control. Based on the latest maps, the active fires now appear to be a considerable distance from camp, but the mandatory evacuation order and access restrictions remain in place for both routes into Baril Bay. We've also been advised that exemption permits are still not being issued.

We've seen several neighboring resort owners sharing photos and updates from their properties, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't anxious to do the same. More than anything, we just want to get back to camp and see everything with our own eyes.

As difficult as the waiting has been, we respect the restrictions that remain in place. We know the people making these decisions are balancing many factors, and we appreciate the difficult work they're doing to keep everyone safe. We have no intention of trying to bypass those restrictions or put ourselves, or others, at unnecessary risk.

In the meantime, we're hopeful that the recent days of rain and cooler temperatures are helping firefighters continue making progress. Like all of you, we're looking forward to the day we can finally head north and share a firsthand update.

Until then, thank you for continuing to check in, send messages, and keep us in your thoughts. Your support has meant the world to us, and we're grateful to have such an incredible community behind Pascoe's at Baril Bay.

We'll continue to share updates as soon as we have new information.
❤️ Jim & Krista

07/19/2026

A quick update from Baril Bay (along with a picture of one of our last nights of fishing where we watched intense heat lightening that just may have been the start of this whole thing)…

We finally received a call from the Ministry this morning regarding access to camp. We have applied for an exemption permit to cross the fire lines, but at this time, those permits are not being issued. We are ready to leave on a moments notice…

The good news is that, as of today, we’ve been told the camp is still standing. While that is an incredible relief, we know we’re not in the clear just yet. The fire remains active in the area, and conditions continue to evolve.

The forecast is calling for much-needed rain beginning this afternoon, continuing through the night and into tomorrow. We’re hopeful it will help crews continue making progress.

We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters, pilots, emergency personnel, and everyone working tirelessly, both in the air and on the ground, to protect the area so many people love. Your dedication has given us hope during an incredibly difficult time.

We also want to thank everyone for the kind messages following our interview with CBC. Speaking publicly about our family’s history and what we’ve been experiencing was certainly outside our comfort zone, but we were grateful for the opportunity to share our story.

As always, we’ll continue to post updates here as we receive new information.

Thank you all for continuing to keep Pascoe’s, our neighbors, and everyone affected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers. ❤️

07/18/2026

Last night, we had the opportunity to speak with CBC News (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) which is one of Canada's national stations (similar to CBS or NBC) during their evening news about the impact the fires have had on us. We spoke about the wildfires, our camp, and the emotional roller coaster of the past several days. Like so many others in the area, we've experienced the uncertainty of waiting, hoping, and relying on the kindness of others for information while remaining under evacuation.

We'll continue to share updates as we receive them, and we look forward to the day we can return to Baril Bay and welcome everyone back to the place we all love.

Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.

07/17/2026

We wanted to share another update with everyone who has been checking in on us.

Based on the latest information available from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the various wildfire mapping tools, we are remaining cautiously optimistic.

The first map shows the current fire status. The blue shading indicates that the immediate fire danger in our area is currently considered low, which is encouraging after the much-needed rain that fell over the past day and night. We are hopeful that additional rain is on the way. We’ve highlighted the camp in yellow but we kept the scale of the map so you could see how vast the fire lines are.

The red outline on the map represents the current burned perimeter. At this time, our camp is not within that perimeter.

However, the evacuation grid remains in place, and we are still under a mandatory evacuation order. Because of that, we are unable to return to camp to see conditions for ourselves.

While today's update gives us reason to hope, we know this is still a very active and evolving situation. Until we're able to safely return, we simply won't know exactly what awaits us.

Our hearts continue to ache for our friends, neighbors, and fellow resort owners who have experienced unimaginable loss during these fires. While we are hopeful for our own camp, we know many families have already had their lives changed forever, and they remain in our thoughts every day.

We also want to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out with messages, phone calls, prayers, and words of encouragement. Your kindness and support have carried us through some incredibly difficult days.

As always, we'll continue to share updates as we receive factual, verified information. We remain hopeful and grateful for every positive sign, while recognizing there is still a long road ahead.

❤️ Pascoe's at Baril Bay

07/16/2026

We are still trying to gather factual information as to the conditions surrounding the camp. At this point- we don’t know anything new. We will update as we learn more.

Again, thanks for the continued support. We have received so many messages, calls, and texts from you all expressing your positive vibes and prayers. We love you all. 💚

07/15/2026

Like so many of you, we wish we had more answers. At this point, we're relying on the same information many of you are seeing: wildfire maps, satellite imagery, and updates from fellow resort owners and friends in the area. Since we evacuated, we haven't been able to return to camp, and communication is limited.

The first image shows the fires around 1:00 a.m and then just a few hours later. It shows how quickly the fire has grown. The darker areas immediately surrounding our camp may appear untouched, but those are actually the surrounding lakes. The second image is a satellite map of camp. We can only hope those natural fire breaks of the surrounding lakes provide some level of protection, though as you can see, the fire is moving closer and the current wind direction is not in our favor.

We know Baril Bay is much more than cabins, boats, equipment, and fishing. It represents generations of memories, laughter, friendships, traditions, and time spent together on Lac des Mille Lacs. Those memories belong not only to our family, but to the countless guests who have become part of our camp family over the years.

We'll continue to share updates as we receive them, but for now we're holding onto hope while also grieving alongside our neighboring resorts, families, and communities who have already suffered unimaginable losses. 💔

Most importantly, we're grateful that everyone was able to evacuate safely. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose homes and livelihoods remain in the path of these fires, the firefighters and emergency crews working tirelessly to protect them, and the wildlife and beautiful forests that make Lac des Mille Lacs such a special place.

Thank you for every message, phone call, prayer, and kind word. Your support has meant more than we can express. We will continue to update everyone as we learn more.

07/14/2026

Thanks to all who have reached out regarding the fires. Everyone has evacuated and we are all safe. These photos are right off of the dock last night. As of right now, the fires are to the west and north but extremely close with no relief in the way of wind, rain, or lower temps to help. Keep all the people in the area in prayers and positive thoughts. The main thing for us is that we are all safe and out of harms way. Hoping the camp survives. 💔