TORONTO – Bonfires and burns banned and hefty fines for those who do not comply: several municipalities in southern Ontario have issued strict prohibitions to try to prevent a worsening of the already dire situation, with wildfires continuing to rage across the country and a heat warning in place. 

On Monday, Aurora and Newmarket issued a total fire ban “effective immediately” emphasizing that the measure is necessary “given the hot, dry conditions that can cause fires to spread rapidly…”. Fires of any kind are prohibited; only barbecues are permitted. “Given the current weather conditions and lack of significant precipitation, we must take precautions to prevent large fires and protect the health, safety, and air quality of our communities” said Rocco Volpe, Fire Chief of Central York Fire Services, as reported by Global News (here).

St. Catharines has also introduced a ban on open fires until further notice due to a prolonged dry spell. “With Natural Resources Canada warning the risk of wildfires in southern Ontario is now categorized as “extreme”, Fire Chief Dave Upper has issued the ban effective immediately. The order prohibits all open-air burning, including cooking fires, fireworks, sparklers and any other types of outdoor burning”, the City stated (here). The St. Catharines order also includes a ban on cooking fires, fireworks, and any other type of open burning. Those who violate the ban will be prosecuted under the Ontario Fire Code and could face fines of up to $50,000.

“The open-air burning ban is in place to ensure the safety of all residents” said Fire Chief Dave Upper. “There will be zero-tolerance and no warnings. The last thing we want to see here in St. Catharines are out-of-control fires like the ones currently burning across the country, including parts of Ontario…”.

Meanwhile, Pickering, Georgina, and Richmond Hill have all issued similar bans.

Ontario, meanwhile, is in the midst of another heat advisory, with temperatures reaching 30°C and relative humidity reaching 40°C. Rain is forecast tomorrow, but clear skies are expected for the rest of the week.

On the fire front, the City of Kawartha Lakes said fire crews are controlling the significant forest fire in the Burnt River area. Authorities said approximately 27 hectares, or more than a quarter of a square kilometer of forest, are still burning. The Ministry of Natural Resources has deployed seven firefighting crews to battle the blaze, which broke out last Friday. Crews are making progress, but hot, dry conditions persist, and winds could worsen the situation. The fire is also burning in a densely wooded area where damage from the winter ice storm has left uneven terrain, making fire hoses difficult to use. The City is urging residents and visitors to avoid the fire area and has closed County Road 49 between County Road 121 and Bury’s Green Road. A complete fire ban remains in effect throughout Kawartha Lakes.

Meanwhile, the rest of Canada continues to burn: according to today’s data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC – here the real time updatings), there are 712 active fires across the country, and 7.4 million hectares have burned since the beginning of the year. And summer isn’t over yet.

In the pic above, a bonfire: in many municipalities, lighting fires is now strictly prohibited (photo from Twitter X – @St_Catharines)