Fire Season runs April 1st to October 31st each year. The rating is verified daily and updated whenever the rating
changes.
The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air. It uses factors such as the relative humidity, temperature, previous
24-hour rain amount, wind directions and wind speed in combination with the forest fuel type and loads to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types. From this calculation the Forest Fire Danger Rating
What do the ratings mean?
LOW
NO DAYTIME BURNING IS ALLOWED. The fire shall only be set 2 hours before sunset and totally extinguished 2 hours after sunrise. Fire must be under constant supervision and control from time of lighting until it is totally extinguished. Only environmentally friendly products may be burned. Fires may start easily and spread quickly but there will be minimal involvement of deeper fuel layers or larger fuels.
MODERATE
NO DAYTIME BURNING IS ALLOWED. Fire shall only be set 2 hours before sunset and totally extinguished 2 hours after sunrise. Fire must be under constant supervision and control from time of lighting until it is totally extinguished. Contractors must obtain a valid permit, from the Township Office. Permits are required between April 1 and October 31. Forest fuels are drying and there is an increased risk of surface fires starting. Carry out any forest activities with caution.
HIGH
NO DAYTIME BURNING IS ALLOWED. NO FIREWORKS ARE PERMITTED. Burn Permits will not be sold. Extreme caution must be taken with all open flames. Campfires for cooking and warmth ONLY are permitted. Forest fuels are very dry and the fire risk is serious. New fires may start easily, burn vigorously, and challenge fire suppression efforts. Extreme caution must be used in any forest activities.
EXTREME
NO OPEN BURNING. NO FIREWORKS. Burn Permits are SUSPENDED. Campfires NOT allowed. FIRE BAN TOTAL FIRE BAN – NO OPEN BURNING, FIREWORKS OR CAMPFIRES ARE PERMITTED. Extremely dry forest fuels. The fire risk is very serious. New fires will start easily, spread rapidly, and challenge fire suppression.
Fire rating signs can be found within the Township boundary lines at Highway 169 between Foots Bay and Glen Orchard and south of Walker’s Point Road, Highway 38, Highway 118 at Milford Bay, Peninsula Road, Highway 141 at Raymond and the corner of Windermere and DeeBank Road.
Further information is available through the Emergency Services Department at the
Township Office at 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling Phone (705) 765-3156