According to Winkler Fire Chief Richard Paetzold, the dry and hot conditions have resulted in a burn ban for Winkler and Ward One of the RM of Stanley.
“We're at Fire Danger Level 4,” says Chief Paetzold.
What does Fire Danger Level 4 mean?
The Winkler Fire Department’s Fire Danger index depends on “how easy it is to ignite vegetation, how difficult a fire may be to control, and how much damage a fire may do.”
Winkler’s current level of DL 4 is one step away from a total fire ban.
At the current level, controlled burns, fireworks (including any displays that previously had a permit, which are now cancelled), and fires in uncovered residential pits are forbidden.
“The only way a recreational fire pit can be used is if it's been built according to our recommendations,” says Chief Paetzold. “They have to be enclosed, which means they have a spark arrester, and so that's the only way .... No open fire pits are allowed.”
Chief Paetzold says enclosed firepits must also be installed per manufacturers’ instructions, supervised by an adult, and not used in winds exceeding 20 km/hr.
“[They also] need to have a means of extinguishment such as a portable extinguisher or pail of water, or garden hose, and they have to be completely extinguished before leaving the site.”
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The fire chief says that gas barbecues are still permitted.
A possible full fire ban
Chief Paetzold says that should the conditions that spurred the current Fire Danger Level continue, it will be updated to a complete burn ban, which means no fires in any form.
To keep up with the status of the burn ban level in Winkler and Ward One of the RM of Stanley, click here.
Residents are also encouraged to check the conditions that apply to their own region since each jurisdiction has different guidelines. For information on Morden and its burn ban, see Morden Fire & Rescue’s Facebook page.
With files from Alexander Peters