where there is smoke - there will be fires

Fire destroys Muskoka Lakes boathouse
The Bracebridge Banner reports two fires. On Aug. 7, the one fire, damaging boats in a boathouse, was due to 'unknown causes'.  Firefighters from Windermere and Raymond were called to a brush fire off Skeleton Lake Road 3 in Beaumont Bay after 3 p.m.

Firefighters fought the blaze for an hour.

The cause of the fire was illegal brush burning, said Schneider, acting fire chief... (read the rest of the story here!)

Unfortunately, the maximum fine for illegal brush burning is $300. A pittance.

We see bonfires all around the area. Brushfires, bonfires, burning of wet leaves.


There was another brush fire on Campbell Lake Road  on Aug. 6 in at 3:15 p.m.

People forget that others are enjoying the outdoors, as they are filling the skies with smoke, others depend upon having their windows open to cool themselves down!

In summer, different levels of fire bans exist.

Around here, there is no daytime burning without permits, when we've had a wet day or two, but even residents, renters and  guests seem to love the myths and memories around fires.

Many do not know, care or understand about the dangers of hydrofluorocarbons.

Photo of a daytime bonfire (removed at property owner's request)

 Oury precious Muskoka is a mess. It smells of smog from the US, on those smog days. Too many coal-fired furnaces.

And still they fight the local hydro project!

Acting Chief Schneider, Deputy Quinton.

Acting Chief Schneider is seen here, checking out the scene of another fire, after numerous media calls for more info. What was up, he wondered?

Police Called to Bala Location After Resident Refuses Hydro and Fire Personnel Entry to Property

Steamship smoke

The wires were buried in conifers at the new Habitat for Humanity Bala build site. All the volunteers were quite concerned!






And some fires are more poisonous.

Russian fires hit Chernobyl-affected areas, threatening recontamination
Russia's state forest watchdog says fires covering hundreds of hectares have been recorded on lands contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster. Experts warn that the blazes could lift nuclear particles into the atmosphere.