The chief for Taché Fire Departments is worried about the lack of winter snowfall and what this means for grassfires this spring. 

“We’ve been talking about it already, considering the lack of moisture and the forecast for even less precipitation this year, we're looking possibly back to three years ago when it was really, really dry and we had a lot of grass fires,” says Allan Rau. “Unfortunately, we had to implement a burn ban, a Level 3 burn ban, for a significant portion of the summer in 2021, and we're looking at possibly that that might be the case again this year. We'll just have to see what Mother Nature is going to bring us.”  

Environment and Climate Change Canada is calling for a “warmer-than-normal” spring and a “hotter-than-normal summer” for southern Manitoba. 

As the weather warms up over the next few days and more people prepare for spring clean-up around the yard and fields, the Taché Fire Department is reminding landowners and homeowners across the municipality that burn permits are required prior to burning large fires, such as brush fires, crop residue burning and large bonfires. 

Burn permit applications need to be submitted at least two business days in advance. Applying for a permit does not automatically mean you have the authority to burn. 

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