Total Fire Ban in Effect in South Frontenac

August 10, 2025 at 7:45 pm: Perth Rd. and Rutledge Rd. are now open to motorists in both directions. SFFR asks motorists to drive through these areas with caution as fire operations are on-going. 

The 20-acre fire is now controlled, with the assistance of Kingston Fire & Rescue, Township of Stone Mills and Loyalist Township Emergency Services. The fire was caused by a ceased bearing on a hay baler. No livestock was injured.

August 10, 2025 at 5:30 pm: The vegetation fire has been contained and is currently under control. There is no need for residents to evacuate the area. Updates will continue to be posted on social media.

August 10, 2025 at 5:08 pm: The road closure (Perth Rd from Wilmer Rd to Greenfield Road and Rutledge Rd from Wilmer Rd to Perth Rd.) is estimated to remain in place until roughly 8:00 pm (Aug. 10). Public works/Township staff are in place along the route and can provide updates for detours.

August 10, 2025 at 3:25 pm: Please avoid Rutledge Road as well as Loughborough Lake Boat Launch (Perth Road) to allow Emergency Services to respond to vegetation fires. 

South Frontenac’s Fire Chief, Del Blakney, has declared a Total Fire Ban in effect starting Friday, August 1, 2025, at 11:00 am.

A total fire ban means no open air burning of any kind, including cooking fires, brush fires, campfires, and fireworks as defined in By-law 2012-68. The ban does not apply to cooking appliances with a mechanical shutoff (such as a propane barbeque). 

The decision to move to a Total Fire Ban was made based on the extreme heat the area has recently endured, combined with little to zero rainfall. Forested areas and properties across the Township are very dry. These indices in combination equal the perfect circumstances for a wildfire to erupt.

“As predicted, this has been a hot, dry summer”, says Blakney. “We know the long weekend typically means bonfires and fireworks, but with the current conditions, these activities are strictly prohibited. A quick fireworks show is not worth your property, or more, burning to the ground.”

South Frontenac Fire and Rescue have deployed resources twice within the past week to extinguish fires in forested areas. Both fires were successfully contained, and no structures were lost. Fire personnel will continue to monitor the situation and notify the public of any status changes.

Fire season in South Frontenac starts April 1 and typically runs until October 31. While a Level One Fire Ban permits cooking and campfires; a Total Fire Ban prohibits all open-air burning, including that for cooking and campfires. Residents can subscribe to the Fire Ban Status page of the Township’s website to get alerts when the Fire Ban status changes. A permit is not required for open air burning, but any open-air fire must always be supervised according to the Township’s Open Air Burning By-law.

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