Fire Safety

Prioritize fire safety for a secure and enjoyable experience, ensuring a protective environment for all.

Muskoka Fire Danger Rating

The Fire Danger Rating is a Muskoka-wide system monitored from April 1 to October 31 each year. It is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally recognized method for assessing the risk of open-air fires. This rating applies to Ontario Fire Zone RF 27 (District of Muskoka). The rating is verified daily and updated whenever there is a change.

Location

Muskoka Information Centre (N Hwy 11)

Phone

(877) 847-1577

Website

Forest Fire Danger Rating and Open Air Burning

In times of extreme dryness, the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources may declare a TOTAL FIRE BAN including all outdoor fires, barbecues and fireworks.

Between April 1st—October 31st, daytime burning is not permitted.

— Burning Control Bylaw 2021-16

Daytime Burning

Between April 1st -October 31st each year, open-air burning is regulated by Burning Control Bylaw 2021-16.

Daytime burning is not permitted. All open-air burning is subject to the Forest Fire Danger Rating and Fire bans. There are also size limits, clearance limits, and fire control measures you must have in place as well as other provisions under the bylaw which you must know if you decide to burn.

If you, your guests, or renters choose to disobey this law and endanger your neighbors the penalties include:

The User Fees and Service Charges By-law authorizes us to recover costs by sending an invoice to the property owner when we attend a fire where it can be shown that this occurred because somebody chose to disobey the law.
Invoices reflect a cost of $488.40 per hour per truck, which is the standard rate in Ontario, plus the cost of firefighter wages. Since we use volunteer firefighters, the cost of wages varies from day to day and from incident to incident.

You do NOT need a permit for an outdoor fire

Smaller than 75 cm. and less than 1m. high.
Sited on bare rock or other non-combustible material.
Minimum three meters from vegetation.
Minimum two meters from anything flammable.
Minimum 15 meters away from any buildings or vehicles.
Attended at all times by a responsible and capable person.

Make sure there is a supply of water nearby. Burn only wood, cloth, paper, or leaves. There are plenty of safety precautions that must be adhered to, including foregoing setting any fires if there are wind conditions that could carry the fire to other areas – and an extensive guideline for grass fires.

FireSmart

FireSmart is a program from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. It provides information to help you protect your property from the risk of a wildfire. Visit the FireSmart website for further information on forest fire prevention.

Fireworks

Fireworks are regulated under the following by-laws by the Town of Gravenhurst.

Gravenhurst does not have a fireworks by-law but prohibits them to be set off within a Township park at any time.

Noise Control By-law

The fireworks laws in the Town of Gravenhurst are governed by By-law No. 2023-62, known as the Noise Control By-law. The by-law aims to regulate noises to preserve the peace of residents, emphasizing the negative impact of noise pollution on quality of life. It prohibits the emission of noise likely to disturb the inhabitants and lists specific prohibited acts and devices, including the detonation of explosive devices, continuous barking, and the discharge of firearms, with exceptions for designated zones and legal hunting or firing ranges. Violations may result in penalties and fines as specified in the by-law.

Open Air Burning Control By-law

Section 2.1(p) prohibits setting off or permitting fireworks, and Section 5.2(d) reinforces this prohibition during a declared fire ban. Fireworks are explicitly mentioned as part of the regulations regarding open-air burning within the Town of Gravenhurst.

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