With fire season practically upon us, local fire departments are reminding residents of some rules of thumb when it comes to burning.
Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Fire Chief Brian Moore says the main thing to remember is ensuring you get a burn permit before starting any brush fires on your property.
Moore says while the ground may be wet from the thaw, exposed patches of dead grass can be extremely susceptible to starting a fire.
“Though the ground is squishy and wet, everything above it is quite brown and dry,” Moore said. “So, even though the ground is saturated with water, there is still a very good chance of a fire spreading right now.”
While the risk of bushfires is relatively low at this time, Moore says it’s important for residents to be aware of what to do if a fire gets out of control.
Moore says some of the more common mistakes they see people make include leaving fires unattended.
“They light a fire, and assume everything is going to be okay because maybe there’s nothing around it or they feel there’s nothing around it, and then maybe there’s a spark or a wind change and before you know it, it’s running across the grass and it’s quite large by the time they actually notice it,” Moore said. “So, definitely tending the fire seems to be a common theme for grass fires.”
Those who are looking to acquire a burn permit can do so through their respective townships.
Fire season begins on April 1st.
