PLAYING WITH FIRE RISKY, SAY FIREFIGHTERS WHO MOVE MUSKOKA FIRE DANGER RATING TO ‘HIGH’ AS SOARING SUMMER HEAT BUILDS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Nobody knows heat like firefighters.
No wonder they’ve upgraded their fire rating to “high.”
With scorching high temperatures nearing 40 degrees yesterday, joint announcements by Muskoka’s six fire departments a day after Canada Day warn of the dangers of playing with fire.
Watch for signs along roads around Muskoka. And make sure you obey them to the letter of the law. There are fines for disobeying.
What you need to know:
- Daytime burning and fireworks are prohibited, including all contractor fires
- All current open-air fire permits are suspended, and no new permits will be issued
- Small, confined fires are permitted in the evening (6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following morning) without a permit. Exercise extreme caution with all open flames. Always have adequate water and tools available to extinguish your fire if needed, and never leave a fire unattended.
Local conditions are being actively monitored by the Muskoka Association of Fire Chiefs and MNR. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.
Learn more about being fire safety in your home at firesmartcanada.ca
Find the official notice on our website here: https://www.muskokalakes.ca/…/fire-danger-rating…/
#MuskokaLakes #FireRating #FireSafety
About the Muskoka Fire Danger Rating
The Fire Danger Rating is a Muskoka-wide rating system monitored from April 1 to October 31 each year. This is the Forest Fire Danger Rating for Ontario Fire Zone RF 27 (District of Muskoka). The rating is verified daily and updated whenever the rating changes.
The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air. It uses several factors to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types, such as:
- Relative humidity;
- Temperature;
- Previous 24-hour rain amount;
- Wind directions and wind speed; and
- Forest fuel type.
From this calculation the Forest Fire Danger Rating is made in consultation with the Fire Chiefs of the six area municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
What do the ratings mean?
Fire danger ratings range from low to a complete fire ban depending on conditions. Daytime burning is not allowed at all from April 1 to October 31, no matter what the rating is.
LOW
Low danger of fire: You may conduct any municipally permitted fire activities. No daytime burning from April 1 to October 31.
MODERATE
Moderate danger of fire: Carry out permitted fire activities with caution. No daytime burning from April 1 to October 31.
HIGH
High danger of fire: Only absolutely necessary municipally permitted activities should be carried out. However, it is recommended that no burning should occur. No daytime burning from April 1 to October 31.
EXTREME FIRE BAN:
Extreme fire danger: NO BURNING OF ANY KIND and NO FIREWORKS ARE PERMITTED.
FIRE BAN/PROVINCIAL RESTRICTED FIRE ZONE
Fire Ban/Provincial Restricted Fire Zone: NO BURNING OF ANY KIND and NO FIREWORKS ARE PERMITTED.
In some cases the Province may issue a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) for the region. As with a municipal fire ban, there is NO BURNING OF ANY KIND and NO FIREWORKS ARE PERMITTED during a Provincial RFZ. For more information click here.
📧 Contact, Subscribe, Advertise
Email: news@muskokatoday.com
Subscribe: E-transfer $30 to news@muskokatoday.com
Mail: MuskokaTODAY.com, Box 34, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1T5
Advertise: Email news@muskokatoday.com for rates
