Several Municipalities Across Leeds & Grenville Issued Total Fire Bans on Monday

Brockville – Many municipalities across Leeds & Grenville have issued total fire burn bans today as the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has rated our area as “Extreme Fire Danger”, due to the dry conditions we are experiencing in our region.

List of Municipalities with Burn Bans as of Monday, June 5, 2023:

• Brockville – total Burn Ban, includes St. Lawrence Park and City owned islands
• Augusta – Total Burn Ban
• Athens Township – Partial Burn Ban, includes all open burning including incinerators with the exception of campfires after 6 p.m.
• Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands – Total Burn Ban
• Rideau Lakes/Westport – Total Burn Ban
• North Grenville – Total Burn Ban

In addition, there are several forest fires across Western Quebec and now in Eastern Ontario, a forest fire started in the Calabogie area, with the local fire department and the Ministry battling that fire. The smoke from these forest fires prompted Environment Canada to issue a Special Air Quality Statement today for our region.

They say smoke is causing or is expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility. High levels of air pollution are expected due to smoke from forest fires.

Smoke plumes from local forest fires as well as forest fires in Quebec have resulted in deteriorated air quality. The poor air quality will persist through the day today and possibly through Tuesday in some areas.

Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.