While dry weather has caused wildfires in Nova Scotia and out west, local weather has been starved of rain lately, and it’s contributing to more brush fires in Chatham-Kent.
Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue officials report firefighters have been called to a “significant increase” in brush fires over the last few days.
Officials said all burn permits are currently active, but they encourage residents to use extreme caution when burning.
Fire officials also remind everyone no open burn – agricultural or recreational – can be left unattended. Burning must always be done in a safe manner and must comply with the Chatham-Kent Open Air Burning Fires By-law (107-2016).
“After quite a long period of warm weather, without rain, the ground and brush is very dry, making it much easier for a fire to start and quickly spread,” Fire Chief Chris Case said in a media release. “Our crews have been working hard to contain these fires, but we need our communities’ help.”
Case said the fire service is not yet proposing a burn ban, but if the dry weather continues and if residents don’t help out, that could change.
“ We constantly monitor the situation. A burn ban would be our last resort and hope that we can work together to keep everyone safe,” he said.
For you smokers out there, fire officials ask that you do not to dispose of lit cigarette butts off balconies or out car windows.
For outdoor fire enthusiasts, officials ask that you extinguish fires before leaving them unattended.
