CURRENT FIRE RATING: MODERATE
Daytime Burning is not currently permitted between April 1 and October 31.
How the Fire Danger Rating is Determined
The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System consists of six components that account for the effects of fuel moisture and weather conditions on fire behavior.
The first three components, referred to as fuel moisture codes, assign numeric ratings to the moisture content of the forest floor and dead organic matter. As moisture decreases, these values rise. Each code represents a specific fuel layer: litter and fine fuels, moderately deep loosely compacted organic layers, and deep compact organic layers.
The remaining three components, known as fire behavior indices, measure the rate of fire spread, available fuel for combustion, and fire front intensity. Higher values indicate greater fire danger. The fire behaviour indices derive their values from daily measurements of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and 24-hour precipitation.
Collectively, the six components yield numeric ratings that indicate the relative potential for wildland fire occurrence and the rate of spread once it has started.
All of this data is managed by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, with weather stations placed throughout the province. These stations are monitored daily and provide real-time data about the daily measurements in those areas.
From April 1 until October 31 each year, daily weather updates are provided to municipalities throughout the province. We receive weather updates in the morning and again in the afternoon. This information, along with other considerations such as workforce availability, resource availability, and whether there has been a wildland fire in the community, is taken into consideration at both the provincial and municipal levels to determine the wildfire rating for the community. As these values change daily, they are monitored on a daily basis.
Residents must be in attendance when burning, do not leave fire unattended.
The size of fire is restricted to 2 feet x 2 feet.
Note that all persons are liable for costs incurred by the fire department, including personnel, equipment and apparatus necessary, when called to extinguish a fire that is not in compliance with the Township’s Open Air Burning By-law.
Burning Guidelines for the Township of Perry
Recreational Open Air Burning (e.g. campfires) for warmth and cooking are permitted on all properties in the Township of Perry. You do not require a Fire Permit for a campfire.
A fire shall be attended, controlled, and supervised at all times by a competent adult until the fire is extinguished. Remember to have immediately available an effective extinguishing agent or device for extinguishing the fire.
Do Not Burn
- within 6 metres (19.7 feet) of a structure, vehicle, combustible/flammable objects and materials, forest, or adjacent properties;
- when wind speeds exceed 30 km/hr., while under a smog alert, or in a manner which limits the visibility of a motorist to a distance less than 150 metres;
- in a yard incinerator unless enclosed and covered by a heavy steel screen mesh with openings less than 5 millimeters;
- during a Fire Ban;
- debris, household waste, rubber, tar, painted wood, pressure or creosote treated wood, wood larger than the fire pit, or any type of yard waste.
Approval from the Chief Fire Official is required for all Non-Recreational Open Air Burning greater than 2 feet x 2 feet and for burning during prohibited times. Please contact the Fire Department at 705-636-5311 or 705-783-8700 to obtain approval for non-recreational fires.
OWNER MUST COMPLY
Every owner shall comply with every direction of the Chief Fire Official or designate, the Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer and immediately cease any action prohibited. For the purpose of By-law 2017-13, all officers mentioned above may enter upon any lands. The property owner is liable if the fire is not contained/monitored.
PENALTY
Every person who contravenes any provision of By-law 2021-34 is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine as provided for in the Provincial Offences Act.
We are RECRUITING!
Visit our Fire Department Page to view our Introduction Package and Application.
Are You Wildfire Ready?
With wildfires taking place across the country, it’s important to be prepared.
Be prepared for any situation.
• Prepare, update and practice your emergency plan and ensure everyone in your household is included;
• Have a 72-hour emergency kit ready with the essentials needed to sustain you and your family for at least three days;
• Test smoke alarms and make sure you have one on every level of your home and outside of all sleeping areas;
• Remove any fire hazards in and around your home, such as dry branches, leaves and debris;
• Know how to turn off utilities;
• Make sure your vehicle has fuel at all times;
• Download and register for the Code Red Alert app for location-based emergency notifications; and
• Be informed of weather conditions, advisories and potentially triggering weather conditions.
With the fires currently taking place in northern Ontario and Quebec, conditions will appear hazy and you may smell smoke. You do not need to report these conditions to the Perry Township Fire Department.
If you see a column of heavy smoke or flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.
View the Forest Fire Info Map for the Province of Ontario for a list of active forest fires.