Fires Could Re-Ignite -- Department Issues Warning

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry today advised anyone who has conducted a controlled burn over the past week to inspect the site for possibilities it could re-ignite. Dan McAskill, who directs forest fire suppression for the department, said that drying and wind conditions over the past two days are conducive to the possibility that any hot spots remaining in stumps, brush piles or round hay bales could begin to burn again. Although rain is forecast for the weekend, it is not expected to be enough to alleviate concerns.

The department is not issuing burning permits at the present time, and it is advising people not to start open fires under any conditions.

Periodic checks are being made at the locations of yesterday's fires in Lorne Valley and St. Felix, mop-up operations are taking place in Ft. Augustus, while forest fire personnel remain fully active in Dover where the fire is still not yet under control.