Grass fires in Ottawa lead to a ban on lighting fires amid increasing risks

Ottawa —
Fire teams in the city of Ottawa responded to two grass fires on Monday, prompting authorities to impose a comprehensive ban on outdoor fires amid increasing risks associated with dry weather.

The fire service said the first report came at 2:54 PM in the Stittsville area, where a fire broke out in corn crop residue and spread quickly, before teams were able to control it after it consumed about three acres of farmland.

In a separate incident later that same day, authorities received a report at 8:10 PM of a small fire near an electric pole in the Nepean area, where teams managed to extinguish the flames within minutes after the surrounding grass caught fire.

Following these incidents, the city imposed a ban on lighting fires starting Tuesday, including campfires and burning grass and wood in open areas, as a precautionary measure based on current environmental conditions.

The fire teams explained that since late April they have dealt with dozens of grass fires and burning reports, noting that many of them started as controlled fires before getting out of control, requiring prolonged and resource-intensive interventions.

These developments come at a time when climate data indicates dry conditions in parts of the Ottawa Valley, increasing the likelihood of fires, even as flood concerns persist in other areas near rivers.

Although water levels in the Ottawa River have begun to stabilize after snowmelt and spring rains, authorities warn of potential fluctuations in the coming days, with a possible new rise in water levels due to weather changes.

This contrast reflects a dual challenge facing the region, between the risk of fires in dry areas and flood risks in low-lying areas near waterways.