Wildfire season begins: Here are the signs to look out for
As warm weather arrives, the Muskoka Fire Danger Rating system will be implemented to reduce the risk of potential forest fires in the community.
The Fire Danger Rating is a Muskoka-wide rating system that will be monitored from April 1 to October 31.
The system is determined using the Fire Weather Index. It uses several factors to assess the risk of certain fire types, such as relative humidity, temperature, previous 24-hour rain amount, wind direction, wind speed, and forest fuel type.
The ratings for fire danger may vary from low to extreme and sometimes even lead to a complete fire ban, depending on the weather and environmental conditions.
Here's what each warning rating signifies, according to the Town of Bracebridge:
Low
- When the fire danger rating is low, it indicates a low fire danger, and the community may conduct any permitted fire activities.
Moderate
- If the rating is moderate, the community can carry out fire activities cautiously.
High
- The high danger of fire indicates that no necessary municipally permitted activities should be carried out. It is recommended that no burning should occur. A total fire ban may be in place.
Extreme
- When the fire danger is extreme, no burning should be carried out, and total fire bans may be in place.
Fire Ban
- In some cases, should the fire danger rating be high or extreme, the municipality could issue a fire ban. When the ban is in place, no burning is permitted, and fireworks are not allowed.
The rating is verified daily and updated whenever the rating changes.
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No daytime burning is allowed from April 1 to October 31, regardless of the rating.
For more information on slash piles or recreational fires in the Town of Bracebridge, see the Burning Control By-Law 2014-018.
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