Before you plan roasting marshmallows, consider this. With very little rain recently and not a whole lot in the forecast, some communities are experiencing a high fire danger rating. Muskoka’s fire danger rating was set to high last week, and now the Township of Severn is following suit. Based on the Ministry of Natural Resources and the weather conditions ahead, the Township has placed the community’s fire danger rating at high. The high rating means you can have a campfire, but extra precautions need to be taken. Severn Fire and Emergency Services says that while fires are allowed, they don’t recommend it during this time. The Township is reminding residents to purchase a residential fire permit before burning, which helps to support overall fire safety, protect the environment and allow for Severn Fire to monitor fires and respond quicker if required. There are signs alerting to the fire rating throughout the Township. Fire danger ratings are determined using the Fire Weather Index, which is an internationally recognized way of assessing how risky fires can be in a particular environment. The index uses a variety of factors to make the call, like relative humidity, temperature, rainfall over the previous 24 hours, wind direction and wind speed. Those factors are then used in connection with the risk of certain types of forest fires. The rating levels are low, moderate, high, extreme and a fire ban.
