NEWS RELEASE
SAULT STE. MARIE FIRE SERVICES
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Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services (SSMFS) imposed a community-wide open air burn ban effective noon, March 23, 2020.
Since this date, fire crews have responded to several open-air burning fires within the community.
As a result, effective immediately, Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services will be pursuing prosecutions regarding anyone caught burning under this ban.
“During these times, SSMFS can ill afford to have our crews responding to these types of complaints. We have some community members that have decided to not take this serious,” stated Fire Chief Peter Johnson. “The community must adhere to this ban or face charges under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act. I have directed my staff to aggressively pursue charges for any individual found burning under the current ban.”
The Fire Protection and Prevention Act prescribes fines for contraventions of the Ontario Fire Code to be up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment.
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