In the wake of a few brush fires and extremely dry conditions, the Muskoka Association of Fire Chiefs has issued a total fire ban for the District of Muskoka.

For firefighters in Gravenhurst, the ban came a few days too late as they were called to brush and grass fires on Saturday only an hour or so apart.

Gravenhurst deputy fire chief John Black said firefighters responded to six calls over the weekend, four of which related to outdoor burning.

He said the first call came in at 2:20 p.m. Saturday when a property owner on Hunt Camp Road was burning yard waste and the fire quickly spread across a large field.

“The time it took her to call the fire department to report the fire, it got totally out of control,” Black said, noting the fire had spread to a 10-by-30 camp-like building that could not be saved. “We were able to save the other seven buildings, including a large barn, but it also spread into the bush.”

Firefighters remained on the scene until about 8 p.m., but some were shuffled partway through battling the Hunt Camp Road blaze to assist a 20-acre brush fire in Ramara Township. That blaze began as a backyard fire at a residence on

Cooper’s Falls Road and spread over the Ramara-Gravenhurst boun­dary.

“We didn’t have an awful lot (of firefighters) to go round,” Black said, noting Gravenhurst firefighters re­turned from the Cooper’s Falls fire around 6:15 p.m.

Despite recent flooding, including some spots near Cooper’s Falls where the Black River rose, a few days with no rain have brought “incredibly dry conditions” where even a lit cigarette could start a grass fire, Black said.

“The top cover is extremely dry even though it’s damp and wet underneath,” he explained. “It doesn’t take much for burning to get away from somebody and cause disastrous results.”

Later Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, Gravenhurst Fire Department responded to two outdoor burning complaints in the town’s urban area.

Both had neighbours concerned that the backyard fires were a perceived threat. The property owners were co-operative in extinguishing the fires, Black said.

Even Monday morning after the fire ban was applied, the department received a complaint about burning in Barkway.

“A total fire ban means no fires of any type are permitted, even in the evening,” Black said.

The Town of Gravenhurst’s bylaw officer can levy a $360 fine including a victim’s surcharge for burning during a ban, which is considered a breach of the burning bylaw. In addition, the municipality may charge fees for service to recover costs incurred by the fire department.

Muskoka Lakes fire chief Jim Sawkins said firefighters did not have to deal with any calls in relation to outdoor burning over the weekend.

Sawkins says it would take two or three days of good rain for the fire ban to be lifted, but conditions are being checked daily.

Muskoka Lakes exercises a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who is caught burning during a ban.

“We take this very seriously,” said Sawkins, adding anyone caught in the township burning during a ban will face a hefty fine, and will have to pay for any resources used by the township to put the fire out. Sawkins said that cost can quickly add up when you consider that each vehicle is charged out at $350 per hour, plus offenders will have to pay any remuneration incurred by all township personnel involved in the incident.

Bracebridge Fire De­partment has been on the go with burning complaints, and people trying to get a jump on their yard cleanup by burning during the day.

Chief Murray Medley said this is the worst time of year for brush and grass fires, and with the current conditions the fire chiefs are being proactive.

The base fine for burning in Bracebridge during a fire ban is $75, but there are a number of fines that can be issued by the bylaw department. Also, if the bylaw department has to call in the fire department to extinguish the fire, those in contravention will have to pay for the cost of equipment and personnel used.

For complete information on burning in your municipality, please check with your local municipal office or call Muskoka’s toll-free Forest Fire Danger Rating at 1-877-847-1577.