Wildfire Prevention

Millions of acres of land are destroyed by wildfires every year. Lightning accounts for more than half of all the wildfires each year. The other half occurs mostly due to our carelessness and arson. The following article describes what we can do to help prevent our share of these destructive fires.

The number of escaped fires resulting from backyard burning can be reduced by adhering to safe burning practices. People doing backyard burning must have hand tools, water and enough people on hand to keep the fire in check. Fires must not be lit or allowed to continue to burn when the wind is strong enough to cause sparks to be carried to other combustible material or when a notice banning or restricting the use of open fire is in effect

Careless use of campfires is one of the leading causes of forest fires. When building a campfire, select your campsite carefully. Prepare your campfire by removing all leaves, twigs and other flammable material from the area. Choose a proper fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least three meters from trees, shrubs, structures and debris. Don't leave a campfire unattended, and do keep a pail of water close by at all times. Be certain your campfire is completely extinguished before you go to bed or leave the area. Pour water on the fire and douse the site thoroughly. Stir the campfire until there are no embers and the ashes are cold to the touch.

Another cause of wildfires does not arise from accidents or carelessness, but from arson. Every year, arsonists throughout the province start fires that result in a high financial loss, as well as risk to property, homes, wildlife, and people. Arson is a crime and any knowledge of this it should be reported immediately.

Additional Considerations:

a distant wildfire
  • Do not burn in windy conditions.
  • Do not discard smoking materials from vehicles.
  • Lawn & farm equipment should have properly working spark arresters to prevent sparks from exiting through the exhaust.
  • All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's) produce an enormous amount of heat and can ignite brush from their exhaust systems.