WELLINGTON COUNTY – Fire departments across the county have declared a partial fire ban, effective June 7.
Fire departments in Minto, Mapleton, Wellington North, Centre Wellington, Erin, Puslinch and Guelph/Eramosa implemented the measure “due to the extreme dry conditions,” states a June 6 press release.
The release indicates there will be no burning allowed, other than recreational cooking fires, until the ban is lifted.
The ban will remain in place until further notice or conditions improve.
“Certain periods in the year create conditions that make even controlled burning dangerous and this risk can quickly lead to fast and uncontrolled spread of fire,” fire officials state.
The release notes circumstances that warrant restrictions include, but are not limited to:
- high winds;
- prolonged dry spells;
- early spring surface conditions; and
- cut fields or wet conditions that do not allow firefighting equipment to access remote or rural locations.
Fires prohibited during the partial fire ban include agricultural burns, brush pile burns, and any other burning unrelated to recreational cooking or camp fires.
Fines are in place to enforce the ban when required, the release states.
Details of the partial burn ban vary slightly from municipality to municipality:
- in Centre Wellington all B Class and C Class fires (large, controlled burns and fires two metres by two metres) are banned;
- in Erin, large burn permits will no longer be issued, however residential permits for recreational camp and cooking fires are still valid;
- in Guelph/Eramosa all burn permits issued for rural residences are suspended but recreational camp and cooking fires are still permitted;
- in Mapleton all fires that exceed a ground area of two meters by two meters are banned, however recreational camp and cooking fires are still permitted;
- in Minto open air burn permits will no longer be issued and all current burn permits are no longer valid. Recreational camp and cooking fires are permitted;
- in Puslinch, open air burn permits will no longer be issued, and all current burn permits are no longer valid. Recreational camp and cooking fires are permitted; and
- in Wellington North all burn permits issued for rural residences are suspended. Recreational camp and cooking fires are permitted.
The joint press release states, “We thank residents for their patience and cooperation with this matter.”
Fire officials are encouraging residents to “take every precaution” to prevent brush and grass fires including:
- clearing all combustible materials such as tree limbs, leaves and other dry materials away from buildings and propane tanks;
- keeping barbecue propane tanks at least three metres from buildings;
- storing wood piles at a safe distance from homes;
- pruning trees to create vertical separation from the ground;
- clearing out any accumulated dry or dead debris from around properties; and
- disposing of cigarettes safely.
“Carelessly-discarded cigarettes continue to be a major cause of grass fires during these dry periods,” fire department officials stated.
“Do not throw lit cigarettes out vehicle windows.”
For questions or more information on the ban, citizens are being urged to contact their local fire department.
