Shuniah (June 6, 2023) – At approximately 9:00pm on June 5, 2023, Shuniah Fire & Emergency Services (SFES) responded to a report of an open-air fire on Green Bay Road.
Arriving crews arrived to find a small, supervised campfire and extinguished it. Further investigation revealed that there was no burn permit for this fire, and that the seasonal home did not have working smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.
This follows three other open-air burns that have been reported to, or observed by, Shuniah Fire and MNRF Conservation Officers in Shuniah since the implementation of the Restricted Fire Zone on June 1, 2023. Charges are pending in some of the incidents.
SFES would like to remind the public that it is everyone’s responsibility to check for restrictions before any open-air burning. It is illegal to set an open-air fire for any purpose, including campfires, within the boundaries of a Restricted Fire Zone unless specific conditions have been met. Also, all burning permits issued by SFES were suspended effective June 1, 2023, consistent with the Restricted Fire Zone.
The penalties for contravention under the Forest Fire Prevention Act can include a fine up to $25,000, three months in jail, and/or the financial costs incurred in extinguishing the fire.
SFES would like to ask the public to remain vigilant for wildfires and to have an updated emergency kit and plan. Report fires to 310-FIRE (3473).