The Fire Danger Rating for Muskoka is now in effect.
It’s monitored from April 1 to October 31 each year by the Muskoka Association of Fire Chiefs and verified daily and updated whenever the rating changes.
The Fire Danger Rating is currently set at Low.
This means small fires are permitted in most rural areas of Muskoka keeping in mind that no daytime burning is allowed.
The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is the Forest Fire Danger Rating for Restricted Fire Zone RFZ 27 (District of Muskoka).
It’s determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air.
It uses factors such as the relative humidity, temperature, previous 24-hour rain amount, wind directions and wind speed in combination with the forest fuel type and loads to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types.
From this calculation, the Forest Fire Danger Rating is made in consultation with the Fire Chiefs of the six area municipalities and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF).
Residents, cottagers, and visitors should be aware that conditions can change rapidly throughout the spring, summer, and fall and the Fire Danger Rating will be adjusted according to conditions.
In some conditions, should the Fire Danger Rating be set to High or Extreme, the municipality may choose to issue a Fire Ban.
When a Fire Ban is in place, no burning of any kind is permitted and fireworks are not permitted.
The current Fire Danger Rating can be found on roadside signs throughout Bracebridge and Muskoka, on the Town of Bracebridge website at www.bracebridge.ca or by calling the Muskoka Fire Danger Rating tollfree hotline at 1-877-847-1577. Open air burning is regulated in the Town of Bracebridge through a Burning Control By-Law.
Questions about the By-law can be directed to the By-Law Enforcement Branch by calling 705-645-5264 ext. 3250 or emailing bylaw@bracebridge.ca.
Muskoka Fire Danger Rating Season Now In Effect – https://t.co/Ur8UpvxFbQ pic.twitter.com/l4ESMqoLYo
— Town of Bracebridge (@townbracebridge) April 1, 2022
