As temperatures rise again, extra caution is required in various contexts. One such concern is the higher likelihood of grass or crop fires developing.
Chris Lemky, Chief of Carman Dufferin Fire Department, says the department has already responded to a grass fire this month.
“It appears that it started in some mowed grass on the roadside and spread into a homeowner’s alfalfa field,” he says. “Thankfully, the homeowners were there, caught it fairly quickly, and were able to extinguish most of the fire before we got there, so it didn't spread too far.”
Chief Lemky says that while grass and crop fires are a minor concern right now because there was plenty of rain earlier in the spring, the upcoming stretch of high temperatures does constitute a “minor concern.”
“We did have some hot temperatures . . . last week and going into some hotter temperatures now,” he says. “Any grass that has been mowed or cut or anything like that . . . is extremely dry and can spread fire fairly quickly.”
The homeowners who caught the grass fire on their property quickly had the right idea — keep vigilant and call for help if any fire should be spotted.
Another factor of the heat to pay attention to is how much time one spends in it.
“With higher temperatures and higher humidity we try not to be outdoors doing strenuous work for too long, that's for sure,” says Chief Lemky. “Medical emergencies can happen at any time, but when it's hot and humid out, it can definitely be a strain on people.”
Community members are also encouraged to have their air conditioning devices inspected as they see more use in the coming period, especially if they are older window units. While Chief Lemky says that the area has not traditionally seen air-conditioning units catch fire, it’s not impossible.