Wildfire in the 1000 block of Rutledge Road - Township Says Fire Now "Under Control"
UPDATE 5:30 pm - The vegetation fire has been contained and is currently under control. There is no need for residents to evacuate the area. Updates will continue to be posted on social media.
UPDATE 5:08 pm - The road closure (Perth Rd from Wilmer Rd to Greenfield Road and Rutledge Rd from Wilmer Rd to Perth Rd.) is estimated to remain in place until roughly 8:00 pm (Aug. 10). Public works/Township staff are in place along the route and can provide updates for detours.
(Update at 3:46pm from South Frontenac Fire and Rescue - "Perth Road heading South will be closed at Wilmer Road, and Perth Road heading North will be closed at Greenfield Road.
Additionally, Rutledge Road is closed at Wilmer Road.
Sunday 3:35 pm - Rutledge Road is closed between Wilmer Road and Perth Road as South Frontenac Fire & Rescue respond to a large wildfire in the 1000 block of Rutledge Road. Please avoid the area and the Loughborough Lake Boat Launch.
(Update - 3pm, Sunday August 10. A wildfire in the Rutlege Road area of South Frontenac, has resulted in the closure of the Loughborough Lake public boat launch.
"Please avoid Rutledge Road as well as Loughborough Lake Boat Launch (Perth Road) to allow Emergency Services to respond to vegetation fires," said a post from South Frontenac Fire and Rescue at 3pm)
As of August 8th, Total Burn Bans are in effect in South, Central and North Frontenac and Addington Highlands.
North Frontenac and Addington Highlands put their bans in effect on August 8, joining the other jurisdictions.
"A total fire ban means no open air burning of any kind, including cooking fires, brush fires, campfires, and fireworks as defined in By-law 2012-68. The ban does not apply to cooking appliances with a mechanical shutoff (such as a propane barbeque)" said South Frontenac township release on August 1. Identical burn bans are in effect in all four jurisdictions.
A statement on August 6th from Central Frontenac Fire Chief Chris Mcdonough is typical of those made by the other chiefs and all of the bans carry the same restrictions on open burning.
“The Township of Central Frontenac is currently under a Total Burn Ban. Under these conditions, all outdoor burning is strictly prohibited. This includes campfires, cooking fires, grass, brush, and any other open-air burning. If you are caught burning outdoors during this ban, your fire will be extinguished, and your actions may result in a fine,” said Mcdonough, in a township media release
In a phone interview, Mcdonough said that there is no expectation of rain over the next two weeks, so he expects the ban to be in place for a while. A level 1 ban had been in place for almost a week, but with the Total Ban, campfires are not permitted. The ban also applies in Provincial Parks within the township. McDonough said he has informed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry as well, as the township has a mutual aide agreement with the Ministry.
North Frontenac Fire Chief Adam Robinson declared a Total Fire Ban on August 8.
South Frontenac’s Fire Chief, Del Blakney, had already declared a Total Fire Ban on August 1st.
“The decision to move to a Total Fire Ban was made based on the extreme heat the area has recently endured, combined with little to zero rainfall. Forested areas and properties across the Township are very dry. These indices in combination equal the perfect circumstances for a wildfire to erupt,” said a South Frontenac release on August 1.South Frontenac Fire and Rescue have deployed resources twice within the last week of July to extinguish fires in forested areas. Both fires were successfully contained, and no structures were lost. Fire personnel will continue to monitor the situation and notify the public of any status changes.
Residents can subscribe to the Fire Ban Status page of the South Frontenac Township’s website to get alerts when the Fire Ban status changes. A permit is not required for open air burning, but any open-air fire must always be supervised according to the Township’s Open Air Burning By-law.
