After a gloomy winter with little snowfall, Ontario cottage regions may be on track for yet another record-breaking wildfire season.
Following last year’s devastating wildlfires, fire departments and some Ontario cottage country municipalities across the province are introducing new rules for burning.
The Township of Muskoka Lakes recently adopted a new open-air burning bylaw that took effect on April 1. While Muskoka Lakes has required daytime burning permits since 2012, this new bylaw defines daytime as between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“A lot of people [in Muskoka Lakes] want to burn outside to get rid of vegetation in their yards,” says Ryan Murrell, the fire chief of the Muskoka Lakes fire department. “These regulations make it safer for everyone.”
Other municipalities including Bracebridge and Minden Hills have banned daytime fires completely during fire season. The official fire season for regions north of the Severn River starts on April 1 and ends on October 31.
Who decides whether or not you’re allowed to burn daytime fires?
That’s up to local municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Municipalities have to determine their responsibilities at a local level, says Murrell. They take into consideration how fast authorities can respond to a fire and the overall resources—such as firefighters—they have access to.
Contractors and property owners often burn unwanted materials such ase vegetation for various reasons. Those who hope to set daytime fires can now apply for a permit online. The permits allow the fire department to monitor where fires are taking place and gives them the ability to send out immediate information to users should fire conditions change. These notifications go out through email and text, and users are also notified when they activate their permit before use.
After an unseasonably dry winter, these conditions could change rapidly. A record-breaking 18.4 million hectares of forest burned across the country last year, and Murrell says that there is the potential for similar conditions this year.
Just days before the official start to fire season, a brush fire destroyed around 11 acres of brush in Minden Hills. The local fire department in the area is restricting daytime burning throughout the 2024 fire season.
“The decision to eliminate daytime burning during the fire season was made with heightened public safety in mind,” Robert Thilbert, the acting fire chief with the Minden Hills fire department, said in a media release on Monday.
Depending on how fire conditions progress throughout the season, restrictions could evolve in Muskoka Lakes as well.
“If the fires keep burning, [Muskoka Lakes] could also restrict daytime burns,” Murrell says.
For now, regulated daytime fires are still permitted in many townships. If your local fire regulations permit it, Murrell says there’s nothing wrong with burning vegetation on your property.
However, it’s important to be mindful of your area. Pay attention to wind and weather conditions, wet down areas that you don’t want to catch fire, and stay alert to changing fire danger ratings.
If you burn without a permit, you could receive a fine of up to $25,000. In Muskoka Lakes, Murrell hopes that the new bylaw will mitigate any confusion regarding what’s allowed to occur during fire season.
“We try to educate before we enforce,” he says. “Check the rules before you burn.”
For more information regarding your community regulations, consult with your local fire department or the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
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