Hope you weren’t looking forward to a backyard fire with the family anytime soon.
The Chatham-Kent Fire Service extended its ban on recreational campfires for the immediate future.
The fire service put the ban in place April 1 for 28 days. As that deadline approaches, the service, at the behest of Chief Chris Case, opted to extend the deadline.
Why?
According to a municipal release, it’s because the federal and provincial COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect.
“There will continue to be members of the community who are frustrated by the implementation of this suspension. We completely understand those frustrations and I don’t know anyone who is not yearning for the world to return to some semblance of normality,” Case said in a media release. “It is important to remember that when a member of the community reports a fire we have to attend and investigate the circumstances. At a time when social distancing and maintaining the safety of your family at home is so important, we only want to have our firefighters interact with the community when it is essential.”
Fire officials said they are monitoring the situation and will continue to await notification from provincial and federal levels of government for when community safety controls are to be amended.
When this happens, the suspension will be reviewed, they said.
During the past 28 days, firefighters have attended a number of campfires which have been set in contradiction to the suspension, officials said. On every occasion fire officials have spoken with the homeowner and advised them about the ban.
Most people have been receptive and have extinguished the burn, they added.
“On one occasion, a burn was spread by the wind and resulted in a small structure fire requiring a full station response,” Case said. “This illustrates the reasons why we have taken this action. It is about saving lives and protecting the vulnerable. Fires, rescues and other emergencies have not stopped for the pandemic, we need to safeguard all our first responders to ensure we remain available to respond to calls for help”
