He told us Friday afternoon, and because of something that circulated on social media over the weekend, Timmins fire chief Tom Laughren is telling us again: the provincial ban on open flames in the outdoors is still in effect.
The MNRF imposed the prohibition on April 3rd. It applies to all private and Crown land.
Laughren says the situation blew up when someone shared an almost two-year-old news item.
“Be very, very careful when you’re going to read something and then press the share button,” he advises and urges. “It was quite evident on that news release that it was from August, 2018.”
Laughren says his office got between 20 and 30 calls Monday morning, from ordinary citizens and other municipalities.
“No pun intended,” he remarks, “but it’s spreading like wildfire throughout not only Timmins, but the region.”