Several fire departments in Dufferin County have contained an about 14-acre grass fire that posed a threat to some buildings nearby in Mono.
A total of about 25 firefighters from Shelburne, Orangeville, Mulmur-Melancthon and Rosemont were called to extinguish a grass fire near the southwest corner of 25 Sideroad and Hurontario in Mono early Monday afternoon (March 26).
By about 3:30 p.m., Shelburne fire Chief Brad Lemaich reported the fire, which posed a potential threat to a barn and two houses in the area, had been contained. He confirmed nobody was injured in the blaze.
“We were able to protect the structures. We have no damage to any of the structures,” Lemaich explained. “We’ve probably got in the neighbourhood of 14 acres burned, maybe a little more.”
This is the third grass fire members of the Shelburne fire department have responded to in the last three days. Lemaich has also been made aware of another grass fire occurring in Dundalk on Monday afternoon, as well as two more in Wellington County.
“They are all over the place,” Lemaich said, noting Orangeville firefighters were also called to a pair of grass fires this past weekend.
“This dead grass, within hours of the snow melting off of and it getting sunlight, is just like a tinder box,” he added. “There is no green growth underneath and the ground is still frozen — we don’t have groundwater working its way up — this stuff just takes off like crazy.”
Prior to Monday’s fire, the Shelburne fire department posted a warning to residents on Facebook. “Now is NOT the time to do any outdoor burning. Extremely dry dead grass and gusting winds lead to out of control fires very quickly,” the post stated.
“With weather like this, it is as simple as an ember from last night’s campfire or a discarded cigarette butt down the road,” Lemaich added. “Next thing we know, we’ve got 15 acres on fire."
At about 2:40 p.m., the OPP reported 25 Sideroad was closed between Hurontario Street and 1st Line EHS in Mono. It is not known when the road will reopen.
Link to original article in the Orangeville Banner: 'Just like a tinder box': Multiple fire departments battle 14-acre grass fire near Shelburne