Thursday forest fire update

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

************************* East Fire Region - forest fire advisory

May 21, 2009

There have been three new fires reported in the East Fire Region.

Two fires are in the North Bay district; North Bay 9 is 0.4 hectares in size and North Bay 10 is 0.1 hectares in size.

The third fire is in the Parry Sound district; Parry Sound 7 is 1.0 hectares.

The forest fire hazard remains low throughout northern portions of the East Fire Region as the result of recent rain and cooler temperatures.

The hazard is moderate to high from Sault Ste. Marie to North Bay and in southern Ontario.

Traditionally in the spring, people do clean up around their rural homes and cottages and use brush pile fires and grass fires to remove dead grass and brush, or ignite woody debris in burning barrels.

These types of fires always carry the risk of spreading into wildfires if not properly managed.

Please make sure you follow safe burning guidelines:

- The fire is ignited no sooner than two hours before sunset and extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise

- Only a single pile is burned at any one time

- The pile is not more than two metres in diameter and less than two metres high

- The fire is at least two metres from any flammable materials

- You have tools or water adequate to contain the fire to the fire site

- A responsible person tends the fire until it is extinguished.

Even at sunrise or sunset - if it’s windy, don’t light!

If you live within a municipality, please contact your local municipal office or fire department before burning.

For more information on FireSmart safe burning practices, please visit here. *************************