Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Chief Gary Monahan confirmed what most people already suspected: there will be no fireworks this Canada Day.
At the Monday night council meeting, Monahan told Huntsville Council that he had spoken to representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) who indicated that there are still “close to 60 fires that are burning in the east and the west. Most of you could smell it yesterday.” Monahan said despite the significant rain, there has also been significant lightning which caused fires.
‘We do not anticipate that the MNRF will be pulling off the ban in the next little while,” said Monahan, adding that the Muskoka fire chiefs met and will continue to support the MNRF because “obviously they’re the experts in this… nobody wants the ban off more than I do, believe it or not, we are busier with burn complaints than we are with the ban off.”
Councillor Bob Stone wanted to know whether headway was being made to fight the forest fires affecting the area. Monahan said that based on the conversation he had with the MNRF, they are making headway but lightning fire starts set them back.
Councillor Dione Schumacher noted that fireworks were still being sold and wondered whether those purchasing them knew of the total fire ban.
Director of Planning Services and Bylaw for the Town, Kristin Maxwell, confirmed that the bylaw department had paid a visit to all merchants asking them to inform customers of the total fire ban.
Both Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock and Stone said there could be more signs and communication with the public about the total fire ban. Monahan said a press release would be issued today and the fire department is working on some more signage. He also said it takes up resources to administer the signs and change them as per the fire rating.
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I totally agree with Brian Tapley, I didn’t know that Hunters Bay was a fire hazard, I think this decision is totally wrong
Well, this ban is consistent, probably a good idea but I have to wonder why it is that fireworks, set off professionally from a barge a half mile from shore could not continue if they were thus planned. This is how they used to set them off at Dwight and Dorset.
There could be no fire hazard from this.
I suppose the extra smoke would not be good and it might give weak minded folk the wrong idea and of course, there is never much logic to be found in rules and rule books in the first place. Simpler to remove all choice and just say no but I think fireworks could be safely done in mid lake from a barge, regardless of how dry the land is.
Just sort of thinking here………
I agree with Hugh with respect to his comments on Residential Schools. Some good,and some good and dedicated people were involved. We also should remember the timeframe in which many of the adverse events took place,and we have indeed as a Canadian society learned some worthwhile lessons from past sins.In our treatment of our fellow human beings, it is crucial that we look forward beyond what used to be a Colonial type society where those with economic power (one example England/Ireland) “lorded” it over weaker members,to the detriment of Society as a whole.