Open air burning ban takes effect in Hamilton as air quality deteriorates
Published June 7, 2023 at 4:11 pm
In response to the city’s escalating fire risk and deteriorating air quality, the Hamilton Fire Department(HFD) has now banned all open-air burning activities.
The decision comes after weather indicators point to an elevated risk of wildland and grass fires while smoke from forest fires in Ontario and Quebec blankets the region.
Effective immediately, the ban includes suspending all approved open-air burning permits and aims to curtail additional smoke generation that could exacerbate the already compromised Air Quality Health Index ratings.
The local Air Quality Health Index indicates significant impacts due to the combined factors of wildfire smoke migration and adverse weather conditions.
“The effects of wildfire smoke pose risks to everyone, with increased vulnerability observed in small children, pregnant individuals, seniors, and those with pre-existing lung or heart conditions. Additionally, individuals engaged in outdoor work or strenuous exercise should exercise caution,” HFD said.
Considering these warnings, the City of Hamilton has also cancelled sport and recreational amenities starting today (June 7).
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As a result of the Air Quality Warning and directives from sport governing bodies, rental permits for all outdoor City of Hamilton sport and recreational amenities will be cancelled for June 7, 2023. For more information, visit https://t.co/bmUVw3nItK #HamOnt
— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) June 7, 2023
All forms of open-air burning, including the burning of clean wood and brush, outdoor campfires, and the use of outdoor wood-burning appliances, are also banned. Residents are urged to fully extinguish smoking materials before disposing of them in non-combustible containers.
The ban will be in place until conditions improve in the city.
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