For Immediate Release                                                               

SUBJECT: Wildland Fire & Open Air Burning Update

On March 30, 2024, The Minden Hills Fire Department were alerted of a Brush fire, while enroute the call was quickly upgraded to a brush and structure fire. Command from Minden Hills requested assistance from Dysart et al and Algonquin Highlands Fire Departments. The fire had spread from an open burn into some brush and nearby prairie grass, due to inconsistent and unseasonably warm temperatures over the past couple of days these conditions allowed the fire to spread quickly. The fire grew to approximately 11 acres of brush and consumed a large barn structure. 

During the height of the blaze there were 30 firefighters and 12 pieces of apparatus on scene to fight the fire. The blaze took several hours to bring under control and fully extinguish. Due to the efforts of well trained and equipped Firefighters the fire was extinguished before it could spread into a large, forested area.

As a reminder a new Open Air Burning By-Law will come into effect across the municipalities of Haliburton County starting Monday, April 1, 2024. Jointly created by the County’s four Chief Fire Officials and adopted by each of its lower-tier municipal Councils, the new by-law establishes consistent burning regulations throughout the County and introduces some new provisions.

A major change introduced in the new By-law is the elimination of daytime burningduring the fire season, which runs from April 1 to October 31 each year. Previously, daytime burn permits were available to set open air fires during this period.

The 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive ever recorded in Canada, and the decision to eliminate daytime burning during the fire season was made with heightened public safety in mind.

The Minden Hills Fire Department would like to remind all residents and visitors when choosing to have an open-air fire during the hours of 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. to please use an appropriate fire pit area and always have a means of extinguishment at the fire as a precaution. Before departing the fire make sure the fire is completely extinguished.

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