Dry conditions increase risk of fire at Wainfleet Bog
Conservation area closed to the public
Chances are high that the Wainfleet Bog will once again go up in smoke.
In 2016, dry conditions sparked a fire at the site owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and on Thursday,
Mike Reles, a spokesperson for the agency, said the wetland is in danger of igniting again.
The 1,460-hectare site that consists mostly of peat deposits and sphagnum moss provides a lot of fuel for fire during droughts like the one currently being experienced across Niagara, according to Reles.
“When it dries out, the moss that’s on the ground is basically like kindling,” he said.
On Thursday, equipment that monitors moisture was being installed at the bog, which will then be used by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to detect and rate the severity of a fire, if one were to get going. In the meantime the bog has been closed to the public.
“Our hope is that the province will monitor and rate the Wainfleet Bog as one of the forests they’ll keep an eye on,” said Reles.
He also said a heat-sending drone will be used to assess the condition of the protected area.
“We’ll be able to see a fire in its early stages, should one start up,” said Reles.
Like during previous incidents, smoldering begins underground and then causes more serious problems when it reaches brush on the property.
“That’s when you’ll start to see big flames in a bog fire,” said Reles.
The Wainfleet Fire Department has not been consulted about the possible risk and the NPCA will call on the ministry if the bog ignites.
“If something like this were to happen, we’d be relying on the MNR to come and fight it,” said Reles, also explaining that the Conservation Authority has
trained staff that are qualified to combat a blaze in the area.
“We may be in a position where we would have to fight the fire ourselves,” he said.
“It’s really dependent on the resources and the size of the fire,” said Reles, noting that the ministry is busy with other situations around the province currently.
The crisp weather is also a positive contributor to the NPCA’s properties, as income at all four revenue-generating sites (Binbrook, Balls Falls, Chippawa Creek, Long Beach) is up by 20 per cent from January to the end of June, compared to last year.
A lot of this has to do with new services offered at its Binbrook property, as an inland beach and Fun Splash Sports Park have been a major draw this year.
“It’s been very popular and there’s been lineups to get on it,” said Reles.