Fire Ban

A drastic lack of rain and tinder-dry conditions have resulted in a county-wide fire ban across all four municipalities in Haliburton County. Local fire officials made the decision as a preventative measure, to decrease the risk of wildfires.So what is a fire ban and why is it necessary? CanoeFM spoke with Michael French, Fire Chief for Algonquin Hills and the county fire coordinator just hours after the ban was initiated. He said all four fire chiefs from the county's municipalities made the joint decision to protect the region from man-made wildfires.As soon as outdoor conditions permit, the restrictions ll be lifted. In the case of the Haliburton County-wide fire ban, it will last seven days and then officials, dependent on conditions having changed, then decide whether to extend or end it. French says the daytime burning ban has helped prevent fires in Haliburton County. He added he and the other municipal fire officials will reassess conditions and make the decision to remove or continue the county-wide ban in seven days.