With a few recent large scale field fires around the region lately, one Fire Official is reminding people the current open-air burn ban throughout much of Midwestern Ontario is still in place.
James Marshall is the Fire Prevention Officer for both North Huron and the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry and he says despite the rain we received over the weekend, conditions remain very hot and dry.
He says we need a good day or two of rain to really soak the ground before the burn bans are lifted.
"What we need is a couple of days of a good soaking rain and if you've been outside and felt the temperature and looked at the grass, we are nowhere near where we should be with burning outside," says Marshall.
For the most part, Marshall notes that people seem to be complying with the current open-air burn bans that remain in effect throughout the region.
"We (North Huron & Morris-Turnberry) haven't had any issues, which is good; I can't speak to other departments. There are people who are calling and asking if the burn ban means them because they just want to have a fire in their backyard, and yes it does," notes Marshall.
The ban currently only allows for people in approved campsites to have a fire but again, that also depends on whether the owners of the campsite(s) want a fire to take place there.
"It might just be a case of not having a fire and going to the beach for a swim," adds Marshall.
