Restricted Fire Zone - Total Fire Ban
Due to the extreme forest fire hazard, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry declared a Restricted Fire Zone effective June 1st, 2023 for the Northeast Region, which includes Crane Lake and the surrounding community. This Zone remains in place to date, as we head into the Canada Day Long Weekend.
We are under a Total Fire Ban - No Campfires or Fireworks Permitted
The Restricted Fire Zone goes beyond even the typical restrictions of our local Total Fire Bans, and those in breach of the restrictions can face extremely severe penalties including fines of up to $25,000 or even jail time.
By law, you cannot have an outdoor fire in a RFZ, except in accordance with a permit or unless specific conditions have been met under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and Outdoor Fires Regulation 207/96. This includes all burning, including grass, debris and campfires, even when using an outdoor fire grate, fire place or fire pit.
Under the law, residents may use a “portable liquid fuel or gas stove (for example, barbeque), that can be turned off easily by closing a shut-off valve or lid”, however the stove must be at least 1 meter away from flammable materials. Charcoal installations are permitted as long as they are within 100m of a permanent structure used as a dwelling on your own land, remain at least 1 meter from flammable materials, and completely extinguished and all ashes and coals safely disposed of before installation is moved or left unattended. Please visit the Ministry Website for more information and for the specifics under the law: https://www.ontario.ca/page/outdoor-fire-restrictions
