The rain we experienced over the weekend served to lower the forest fire rating to moderate and even low in some parts of our region, as the Restricted Fire Zone remains in effect.
MNRF regional fire advisor Shayne McCool says the lower fire risk will be temporary, and notes that no rain has been spotted north of Cochrane.
“Although we have seen rainfall impact many of the fires across region,” he states, “it’ll allow our crews to continue progressing their suppression efforts on the perimeters of these fires in those priority areas.”
Some parts that did not get rain did experience lighting. McCool says we can expect new fires as a result, but it can take up to a week to spot them.
“And so we’ll be watching those areas over the next week,” he says, “as they dry out and those fuels become available to burn, to see if there are any new lightning fires associated with this storm system.”
Here is audio of our conversation with Shayne McCool. He talks about what’s needed in the long term, and what you could line yourself up for by lighting an open flame as conservation officers enforce the ban.
