Staff
Fort Frances District saw its first fire of the season Wednesday evening.
Local MNR fire operations supervisor Marnie Brown said this morning that a crew responded to a 0.1-hectare, human-caused blaze just east of town.
It primarily was a grass fire, but it did spread into mixed wood fields.
There were structural values in the area but they were not immediately threatened by the blaze, Brown added.
Speaking more generally about the fire conditions in this area, Brown said the fire hazard was building but today’s cool conditions will help alleviate the concerns somewhat in the short-term.
“But we are looking at drier conditions as we get into later in the weekend and then next week,” she warned.
“[And] temperatures are going to be getting closer to seasonal again.
“We are expecting the hazard will be building again as we get through the weekend and into next week,” Brown said.
“There’s a chance of a bit of rain today and slight chance of showers tomorrow, but beyond that we don’t have any significant precipitation, so as always, we’re encouraging people to follow the regulations for burning, as per that set out by the municipality they’re in.
“Or if they’re in unincorporated areas, ensuring that they follow the burning regulations for open-air burning,” she added.
Brush and grass fires have the potential to spread quickly in the spring, and pose a threat to people and property, the MNR said in an report for the Northwest Region.
Fire managers with the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program caution that safe outdoor fire management is a requirement of the Forest Fires Prevention Act of Ontario.
Permits are not required for most small-scale burning of wood, brush, leaves, or wood by-products if the following conditions are met:
All fires
•The fire must be at least two metres from any flammable materials.
•All fires must be tended by a responsible person until extinguished.
•Adequate tools or water must be available to put the fire out.
•The fire is to be started no sooner than two hours before sunset and must be put out no later than two hours after sunrise.
Piled material
•One pile only that is less than two metres in diameter and less than two metres in height.
Grass and leaves
•The total area to be burned is less than one hectare.
•The length of the flaming edge is less than 30 metres.
Further information is available on the fire prevention website at ontario.ca/fireprevention
People living in organized municipalities and in First Nations’ communities must check with their local fire officials on bylaws for outdoor fires.
Report forest fires by calling toll-free 310-FIRE (3473).
