The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is reminding everyone to help reduce the risk with the annual wildfire season now underway.
Approximately half of all wildfires are caused by humans, so ensuring campfires do not get too big and are fully extinguished after, for example, is one of the ways that citizens can help prevent fires, officials said.
Between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2022, there were 268 wildland fires that burned more than 2,516 hectares of forest, well below the 10-year average of 825 fires for the period, the ministry stated on March 30. The year before, severe drought and dry conditions led to 1,198 fires between April 1 and Oct. 31, 2021. Some 793,325 hectares of forests burned, including a 200,000-hectare fire – one of the largest in Ontario’s history.
Province ready
The province is ready to respond, officials stated.
“We are ready to protect people and communities across the province from wildland fires,” MNRF Minister Graydon Smith stated. “Our teams are closely monitoring weather conditions to detect fires early. When they do hit, Ontario’s fire rangers, pilots and support staff are prepared to battle these fires and protect Ontarians.”
The province has action plans in place to manage large, complex fires, especially near communities and critical infrastructure.
“With wildland fire season upon us, it’s vitally important that we have a plan in place to respond to crises quickly, efficiently and in close coordination with partners on the ground,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Emergency Management in Ontario.
“Ontario’s Provincial Emergency Management Strategic Action Plan is our emergency response toolkit to ensure Ontario is safe, practiced, and prepared at all times. Our commitment to communities across the province is that Ontario remains emergency-ready and resilient—both now and into the future.”
