Dry conditions have led another local municipality to declare a total ban on open burning.
Wellington County announced its ban Tuesday.
Burn bans are already in place in Waterloo Region’s townships, as well as Brant County (excluding Brantford).
While some municipalities make exceptions for small campfires, Wellington County says theirs applies to all fires set in open air.
No campfires are permitted at campgrounds and those with permits to burn brush and agriculture piles are also banned from open burning.
The only exception is a contained barbeque.
Fire officials say the ban is necessary as even a controlled burn could be dangerous in such hot dry conditions.
“The conditions are getting extreme at this point. It is very dry out there and once the fire got into the woods or the brush, we’re worried about a very large fire.” Centre Wellington fire chief Brad Patton said.
Officials advise residents to clean up brush and yard waste to help prevent fires from starting.
Anyone caught with an open fire could face fines up to $550 for every vehicle sent out to extinguish it.
With reporting by Nadia Matos
