More fire departments across Golden Horseshoe lift open-air burn bans

Several municipalities in southern Ontario are lifting their open-air burn bans after many were put in place early last week.

The fire departments at the City of Hamilton, the City of Burlington, and the Township of West Lincoln lifted their open-air burning bans Thursday, as upcoming weather conditions forecast increased precipitation.

The City of Niagara Falls lifted their open-air burn ban early Friday morning.

The City of St. Catharines lifted their open-air burning ban Monday afternoon, two weeks since it was put into effect.

The bans were placed due to dry conditions and an increased risk of wildfires, while firefighters battled a significant forest fire in the Burnt River area in the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Officials said about 27 hectares, or a little more than one-quarter of a square kilometre of forest, had caught fire in the community northeast of Toronto.

The City of Oakville and the Town of Pelham lifted their ban Monday following rainfall they received over the weekend.

The Town of Port Colborne lifted their open-air fire ban last Friday.

Property owners who hold a valid open-air burn permit can now resume open air burning in designated locations, often not within urban-designated areas.

An interactive map from Natural Resources Canada updated to show most of southern Ontario under “low” or “moderate” fire danger.

Open-air burn bans are still in place until further notice for: Fort Erie, Grimsby, Milton, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The ban prohibited campfires, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, sky lanterns, chimneys and other fire-related recreations.

This is a developing news story. More to come.

WATCH MORE: Several burn bans issued across Golden Horseshoe due to ‘extreme’ wildfire risk