With wildfires raging all across Canada, including Ontario, and a lot of the country considered high to extreme risk it is more important than ever to do our best to prevent fires. Humans are the leading cause of fire, even more so than lightning.
Here are a few things we can keep in mind while out enjoying nature.
Check fire regulations and bans in your area
Whether you are just having a campfire in your backyard or are camping in northern Ontario always check the local fire regulations and fire bans. Most municipalities will have the fire warning level posted on their websites. If is at a moderate or high level be extra careful and if it is at an extreme level than all open air burning is prohibited. Follow the rules, not only will you prevent a fire from starting but will avoid having the fire department called on you and being charged a heavy fine.
If you do have a campfire, follow these steps
Once you are sure there is no fire ban and you are ready to get a fire started the first step is to check for wind. If there is a lot of wind it might be best to save the fire for another day. If there is little or no wind then go ahead and build your fire, clearing an area around the fire pit of any flammable materials. Once the fire is started make sure someone is always there to keep an eye on it, completely extinguishing it with water before leaving. When you do leave, double check the ashes to make sure that there are no embers left and the ground is cool and moist.
If you are a smoker, be careful with your butts
Cigarettes and “smokers material” is a huge cause of fires in Canada both inside the home and out. If you have to smoke, do so in an area free of flammable material and ash into an ashtray or similar receptacle. When you are done, pulverize the cigarette butt making sure there is no spark left in it. You can also keep a can or bottle half full of water handy and drop your butts in there to be even safer.
Be Careful with your vehicles, both on road and off.
Ensure your vehicles exhaust system is working properly, a lot of vehicles come equipped with spark arrestors which prevent your car from emitting flammable debris. Make sure your car has a spark arrestor installed and your exhaust system is working properly. The same applies to anything that has an engine; chainsaws, lawn movers, leaf blowers, etc. Your off-road vehicles such as ATVs and dirt bikes can also cause fires: the undersides can get very hot causing fires when driving off road. If the area you are in is very dry and is in high risk of fire consider staying on roads and paths as much as possible.
These are just a few ways we can lower the number of wildfires in our beautiful province, please remember to be conscious of everything you do outdoors. A little common sense goes a long way.
To make sure your home and belongings are properly covered in the event of a fire call Absolute Insurance Brokers today at 1-877-941-2266 and we would be more than happy to answer any questions.
