A large brush fire near Port Cunnington Road and Hermans Road in Lake of Bays may have been caused by a lightning strike.
Port Cunnington Road and Hermans Road were closed the evening of May 18 while firefighters from stations 2, 3 and 4 established a water supply to fight the blaze.
Residents in the area were advised to keep their windows closed due to heavy smoke.
Firefighters were able to get the fire mostly under control that evening and returned the next morning to extinguish remaining hot spots.
“Long day for for our firefighters,” the department wrote on its Twitter feed Thursday evening after crews had spent the day ensuring all hot spots had been extinguished.
“We did not find evidence of a human cause but are looking at a possible lightning strike in the area,” fire prevention officer Mike Vadlja told Doppler.
Muskoka’s fire danger rating is currently set to high. Small fires are permitted in most rural areas after 6 p.m., using extreme caution. Daytime burning is not permitted.
On May 15, a campfire that wasn’t fully extinguished started an approximately six-acre brush fire in Port Sydney. Firefighters from Stations 5 and 1 were on scene for more than four hours.
Steve Hernen, the Town’s director of operations and protective services, and former fire chief, took to social media recently to explain why spring burning can be dangerous.
In terms of forest fires, did you know that spring is the worst time to have camp fires? Watch the video to learn more & remember, there is no day-time burning in the Town of Huntsville. @moosefm1055 @Hville_Doppler @yourtvmuskoka @huntersbayradio @MuskokaRegion @country102onair pic.twitter.com/k8RCrlQ7bw
— Town of Huntsville (@townhuntsville) May 14, 2021
A fire ban can be implemented any time environmental conditions create an increased threat of fire. Before lighting a fire, call the Muskoka Forest Fire Danger hotline at 1-877-847-1577 to ensure that a fire ban has not been declared.
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