By Jenn Watt

A restriction that has been in place for weeks banning fires in Ontario’s “restricted fire zone” which includes Haliburton County was lifted as of May 16 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The ban was put in place to reduce the number of human-made fires which would put the public at risk and take up time of emergency responders during a time when their services were already being taxed with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Municipality of Dysart et al confirmed that since there was no municipal fire ban local residents would be permitted to have bonfires – just in time for the long weekend. Follow the regulations of your local municipality.

According to the provincial government 50 per cent of wildland fires in Ontario are caused by humans.