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  • Daddy ‘N Me – Touch a Truck Event

    The Bancroft Fire Department will be joining in the fun this evening for the annual Daddy ‘N Me: Touch a Truck event hosted by North Hastings Children’s Services! This year the event is being held at the Bancroft Community Airport located at 522 Chemausgon Rd. from 5:30pm-7:00pm. We’ll be bringing some of our trucks and equipment for all to check out. Come join us!!

  • Total Fire Ban Lifted – No Daytime Burning Resumes

    As of 4:00 pm today, July 11th 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has lifted the Restricted Fire Zone in Ontario. As such the Town of Bancroft will be lifting our Total Fire Ban as well, and will be returning to the Night Burning Only ban. This means that there is to be no burning or open air fires between the hours of 7am and 7pm.

    This includes, but is not limited to:

    • Burn Barrels
    • Incinerators
    • Brush Piles
    • Yard Waste
    • Camp Fires

    At this time there is to be no burning of any large brush piles or debris. Small camp fires are permitted during the hours of 7pm to 7am. Wood and charcoal burning barbeques are once again permitted during the day for cooking.

    Please keep in mind that the Total Fire Ban can be implemented again at any time by your local Fire Department and/or MNRF during the season due to weather and dry conditions.

    Please ensure any fires during the approved times are never left unattended, are completely extinguished before leaving, and that any ashes are completely extinguished and cooled prior to dumping. Always ensure you have a sufficient water supply such as a garden hose available and near by when having any kind of fire.

  • F.A.Q. Regarding Current Fire Ban

    Over the past few weeks the Bancroft Fire Department has had many questions asked regarding the current Total Fire Ban in effect for the area. Most questions are in relation to why the ban is still in effect after several rainfalls have occurred in the area.

    Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has implemented a Restricted Fire Zone for the entire ”fire region” of Ontario, which Bancroft is located within. The Ministry’s restrictions cover the same bans on open air burning, campfires and wood fired cooking / heating appliances as the Town of Bancroft’s municipal by-law for Total Fire Bans. As such, to avoid any confusion, the Bancroft Fire Department is maintaining the current municipal Total Fire Ban.

    Please find below a message from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry explaining the reasoning behind keeping the current restrictions in place for the time being.

    “Due to the extreme forest fire hazard, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has declared a Restricted Fire Zone for the entire fire region of Ontario (Zones 1 to 36). The Restricted Fire Zone is in effect until further notice. Restricted Fire Zones help protect public safety. Open air burning, including campfires, is not permitted within the boundaries of a Restricted Fire Zone. Portable gas or propane stoves may be used for cooking and warmth BUT must be handled with extreme caution. All burning permits are suspended. Visit Ontario.ca/forestfire for more details and follow us on Twitter @ONForestFires.

    Despite the scattered rain Ontario has received the last couple of days, it is often accompanied by lightning which can strike a tree, and ignite a fire under the forest floor. Once the weather dries up, winds pick up and temperatures rebound those holdover lightning fires can appear up to about a week later. AFFES Fire management staff will be monitoring for holdover lightning fires over the coming days as a result as we see the warm and dry weather rebound this week and rainfall dissipate.

    The current Restricted Fire Zone was put in place due to the extreme fire situation and hazard Northern and Central Ontario have been facing. It is a temporary measure to eliminate preventable human-caused fires while the forest and landscape is highly susceptible to fire starts.

    At this time, the Restricted Fire Zone is in place for the entire fire region of Ontario until further notice.”

    At the time of writing this, there is currently 89 active forest fires in the province of Ontario, with a total of nearly 327, 000 hectares of forest destroyed this year so far. This is an increase of 13, 546% (yes, you read that correctly) over last years total number of 2395.4 hectares destroyed for the total fire season and it’s only the beginning of July. There has been a total number of 384 fires to date this year, which is an increase of 250% over last years total of 110. Because of these numbers, and the overwhelming number of personnel required to fight these forest fires, the MNRF’s restrictions stay in place.

    Please check our website, twitter @bancroftfire, and local news outlets for any updates to the Total Fire Ban when they occur.

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