Weeks of hot, dry weather convinced Haliburton County’s four fire chiefs to impose a countywide fire ban Monday, July 9.

Parched grass and other vegetation gives fire ready tinder and makes quelling blazes harder for area firefighters, Dysart fire chief Miles Maughan said.

“It’s not fun fighting a brush fire this time of year,” he said.

Since declaring the ban, Maughan had received many calls, but all of them had been from people inquiring as to what fires were permissible.

On Friday, he had received no calls reporting illegal burning.

No fires of any sort outside are allowed, Maughan said.

Not fireworks, not in a barrel, not for cooking, not for warmth.

If one is camping and needs a flame, a propane stove is allowed.

There are hefty fines for starting a fire during a ban.

While the fines vary from one municipality to the other, they are in the hundreds of dollars.

In Dysart, it will cost you $350 per truck that responds to your fire.

If the fire gets away, “it could run into the thousands,” Maughan said.

In Highlands East, the fines are steeper with a $410 fine.

In recent weeks there have been several small forest fires in the north end of the county, underlining how important it is to observe the ban.

For more information, call the fire department at 705-457-2126 in Dysart et al or 705-448-2440 in Highlands East.