Renfrew County remains under a complete burn ban. Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and local MPP John Yakabuski says this means no campfires, burning of grass, using outdoor fireplaces or fire pits. Yakabuski says they are having discussions on a regular basis about when to lift these restrictions and welcomes feedback from the public. He adds at least half of the forest fires in the province every year are caused by humans.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry says we need to make sure firefighting crews are healthy, staffed up and able to react if there is a major occurrence. Yakabuski adds parts of the province that are not in the highest areas of the forest industry are not included in the restricted fire zone.
Local fire departments have also issued said they will not issue warnings anymore and will fine anyone having an outdoor fire. Bonnechere Valley Fire Chief Dave Murphy says there’s no exceptions, no excuses and a minimum $615 fine for burning during the ban.
You can get full details on the fire ban online here.
To see a map of Ontario’s fire region, visit ontario.ca/forestfires.
By implementing Restricted Fire Zones, we are taking action to reduce the risk of preventable human-caused fires. See the interactive fire map on our website for a detailed boundary: https://t.co/hjyNBmO48D. pic.twitter.com/CjQq6dk2A7
— Ontario Forest Fires (@ONforestfires) April 2, 2020
