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2-The Canadian Champion, Tuesclay, Aprîl 19,2005 «Ban placed on burning permits due to dry spring By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Witb as unusually dry and windy spring, grass tires bave been keeping tbe Milton Fire Depantment busy and a temporary ban bas been placed on bumning permis. "The conditions are rigbt for bad tires," said Fire Cbief Larry Brassard of Milton Fire Department. Over the pass weckend alone, firefigbsers responded to six grass tires, moat in rural Milton, witb about 14 in the past week. tas quise a contrast to the situation rast year, wben residens were experiencmng a wet spring season. It's nos known wben thse ban on burn permiàs, wbicb camne into effect Friday, will be lifted, M. Brassard said. Tbere are numerous causes of grass tires, including bumning garden waste in the spring. "Its safe to say somne are stanted by people burning, some are p~. "'The warm weather and whids cam exedte the spmea of fires that seem to start off smn , but cm quickly grow out ofeontrol." fr-om kids vandalizing and some are from carelessly discarded cig- arette butta," Mr. Brassard said, urging residents to be extra eau- tious. Grass fires pose a serious tbreat to residens' and firefigbters' safety, he said, and sbouldn't be taken ligbtly. Some take several boums to put out, stretching thin department resources and tire- fighters' energy - particularly when swo or three fires are buma- Services on-site ing as the same time. "It degrades our ability to respond to real emergencies," Mr. Brassard said. Training technician Barry Kory emphasized the importance of being extremely careful wben buming yard waste at any sime, but especially in the spning. "At thia time of year, wben the anow bas melted and grass is extremely dry, tbe public muast be vigilant wben doing yard cleanup and bumning off brusb," he said. "The warmi weatber and winds can expedite tbe spread of tires tbat seem to start off small, but cas quickly grow out of control." For now, tirefigbsers are boping for rain Mr. Kory said. "We're boping for nice, rainy weatber, wbicb nobody wants." Buming in Ontario is strictly probibited witbout a permit from the local tire cbief, Mr. Brassard said. Under normal conditions, residenta in rural Milton cas apply for a bum permit, but this option ian't available to residents living in town, wbere open air bumning of asy type - including in cbimeneas - is pmbhibited. In anticipation of permits soon being issued once again, Mr. Brassard is remninding rural residents tbere are numerous limita tIsat go along witb a fire permis, including burning only dlean objecta sucb as wood or brusb, not items like abingles or garbage. Altbougb burning's neyer 100 per cent safe even wben taking precausions, Mr. Brassard said iÊs pant of tbe rural way of life for masy people. "People are going to bumn, so we wass tbem to hurn safely." Stephanie Thiessen con be reached at sthiessen @miltoncanadi- anchampion.com. Fire stations taking food bank donations Looking for an easy way to belp otbers? "Me Milton Fire Department bas announced two of its stations are now official drop-off spots for food for the Salvation Army's Milton food bank. Residens can now drop food off as the central station on Steeles Avenue or the Campbellville station on Reid Sideroad. Botb loca- tions bave food collection drums in the lobbies. Melissa L. Coulson, Chartered Accountant A Professional Corporation Melss L. Cois ,C A 35 Hugh Street, ilton Ontario L9T 2C7 Tel: 905-876-4633 Fax: 905-876-2064 Toil Free: 1-877-289-2292 7 r] Toyota'S Buggest Sales Event of the Year. It's Big 1t's Red. Ad ts bcl 400 Steeles Avenue 905 875-1700 www.mlltontoyota.com