Burning ditches ‘can have devastating consequences,’ officials remind residents
Fundraiser launched to support Norfolk family left homeless after grass fire spread to nearby house
It is not uncommon for rural landowners to set fire to their ditches to burn away dry grass, brush and weeds.
But fire officials in HaldimandNorfolk say the risks of ditch burning far outweigh the convenience of using fire to clear land.
Over the past week, firefighters in Haldimand have had to put out “numerous” fires that were started by residents burning grass and brush in roadside ditches, according to Katie McNaught, the county’s co-ordinator of emergency management.
“This practice poses significant risks to communities, ecosystems, and property,” McNaught said in a news release.
“Burning ditches can quickly escalate into uncontrolled fires, especially under unfavourable weather conditions such as dry spells or high winds. Once ignited, flames can rapidly spread to surrounding vegetation, crops, and structures, endangering lives and property.”
Windblown embers can spark fires in residential areas, while smoke from ditch fires can reduce air quality and cause respiratory ailments, McNaught added.
The danger posed by ditch fires was seen in Norfolk on April 10, when a grass fire on East Quarter Line near Port Dover ignited several piles of debris and spread to a nearby house, car and two storage sheds.
The next day, firefighters got a second call to deal with hot spots at the site that reignited the building.
The uninsured home was destroyed, with damages estimated at $500,000.
One person in the house was taken to hospital for observation, and the family cat was reportedly killed in the blaze.
No first responders were injured. A GoFundMe online fundraiser to help the family has raised more than $4,000 of its $20,000 goal. Cash donations can also be dropped off at the Urban Parisian bakery in Port Dover.
Burning dry grass without knowing how to contain and put out the fire “can have devastating consequences,” said Norfolk’s fire prevention officer, Cory ArmstrongSmith, in a media release.
Ditch burning is not only dangerous, it is illegal in Norfolk and Haldimand, as ditches are owned by municipalities and not individual landowners.
Property owners can be liable for damages if found guilty of contravening their municipality’s open air bylaw.
Both fire departments urge residents to find safer ways to dispose of unwanted brush and grass.