Fire danger is high in area

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The weekend saw eight fires burn in and around the Rainy River to Fort Frances area and officials are worried as the extremely dry conditions persist.
Deb McLean of the Ministry of Natural Resources Fire Centre in Dryden said Monday, “Compared to a summer scenario, we are in extreme fire conditions.”
McLean said that the winter provided less than normal amounts of precipitation across most of Northwestern Ontario and there has been very little in March. “We are in that transition stage where all the snow cover is gone and the green-up has not occurred yet.” The green-up she is referring to is the growth of new green vegetation that helps slow or prevent the spread of fires. At present there is little of that as the spring has been early and dry and little has started growing. “It is fully cured and very dangerous right now,” said McLean.
The official fire season does not begin until April 1st and runs until Oct. 31st. Once it begins MNR does not allow day time . “We have gotten away from issuing permits for burning by saying people can only burn two hours before sunset and fires must be out no later than two hours after sunrise.”
Some municipalities have their own fire permit regulations so McLean urges people to check with their town office before burning.
The dry conditions coupled with expected high warm winds the first three days of this week have fire officials on high alert. “While we have not issued a restricted fire zone at this time, we are keeping a close eye on things,” said McLean.
North of Rainy River the Dawson Volunteer Fire Departments were kept busy fighting fires near the Wilson Creek area. Whipper Thompson said he was concerned about the fires that started on Saturday and the potential for wind to bring it towards his home. He was lucky and so was an acquaintance of his. A hunting cabin belonging to an American was threatened by fire, but according to Fort Frances District Fire Manager Harold Bovin, it was saved through the efforts of Dawson Fire Dept. and MNR crews.
The fire, was about 410 hectares in size and even though the snow was gone, Bovin said that the ground still being frozen allowed firefighters to attack the fire more readily than they would had the Wildlands Reserve been thawed out and as wet as it normally is.
McLean said that if relief comes from rain things may improve. But until then MNR is telling people not to burn. She also noted that some people think that because fire season has not officially begun they are not liable if a wild fire is started by them. On the contrary they can be held accountable for the damage and the costs to fight the fires.
Bovin said an investigation is being conducted in the Wilson Creek area fire. Anyone with information can call the MNR tips line at 1-877-847-7667.
Of the eight fires McLean said six were municipal and two MNR fought fires. “We are in a tinder dry situation and people should not be burning.”
Thompson did not know who started the fires near his home in Wilson Creek, but he said, it has happened many times in the past decade and he has come close to losing his home.
For tips on fire prevention people can log onto MNR’s website at www.ontario.ca/fireprevention.