Anyone hoping to spend the weekend next to a fire of any kind is out of luck as the municipality has issued an open-air fire ban until further notice.
Chatham-Kent Fire and Emergency Services declared the ban due to the lack of rain and forecasted hot, dry conditions.
According to a news release from the municipality, the provincial forest and wild-land fire indicators are at extreme levels.
The release added all open-air fires are prohibited during the ban including those properties that have an Open-Air Fire Permit.
Assistant Fire Chief Chris Case said it also applies to agricultural burns, recreation campfires, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas or any other fires set in open air.
“We must all do our part by not burning and we are reminding residents to be extra careful with anything that could spark a fire,” Case said. “It’s not just campfires that pose a risk and something as simple as tossing a lit cigarette out a car window could have very serious implications with the dry weather we are having.”
The release also asked residents to watch their propane or gas equipment carefully.
Case said once a fire ban is declared, it is illegal to set a fire for any purpose within the municipality even if someone has previously obtained a permit.