Haldimand County Fire Department Urges Residents To Follow Open-Air Burn By-Laws Following Increase In Complaints/Violations

Haldimand County Fire Department is urging the public to practice fire safety and comply with the municipal open air burning by-law following an increase in calls and complaints about unsafe fires.

“As Haldimand County moves into Stage 2 of Ontario’s re-opening plan, there are more opportunities to gather and enjoy recreational pursuits outdoors. Campfires are a quintessential part of summer for many, but it’s crucial that they comply with the Open Air Burning By-Law,” said Jason Gallagher, Manager of Emergency Services and Fire Chief. “COVID-19 has placed added pressure on emergency services and we need the public’s cooperation to prevent these avoidable fire calls,” he added.

Recreational fires (e.g. campfires) are allowed in all areas without a permit as long as the fire meets all of the regulations set out in the Open Air Burn By-law. These regulations include, but are not limited to: ensuring the fire is contained and supervised at all times and that it is set back at least 10 meters from combustible buildings/structures. A means of extinguishing the fire must be available and measures must be in place to ensure that no one is adversely affected by the products of combustion (smoke and odours).

Non-recreational fires are only permitted in certain areas of the County and require a burn permit. Currently, interim burn permits are available for rural residents at no cost and may be obtained by contacting the Haldimand County Fire Department (905-318-5932). Interim burn permits are available by appointment only, as all County facilities are temporarily closed to the public.

Open air fires that are not conducted according to the by-law present potential safety hazards. Anyone conducting an open air fire that violates the by-law are subject to fines, provincial prosecution and recovery of costs required to respond to and/or extinguish the fire.

Anyone with questions about fire safety or the open-air burning by-law is encouraged to contact the Haldimand County Fire Department at 905-318-5932. A number of helpful resources, including a Safe Fire Guide, is available at HaldimandCounty.ca.

Haldimand County Reminding Residents Of All-Terrain And Off-Road Vehicle Use Rules

Haldimand County is reminding the public that all-terrain & off-road vehicles are NOT permitted to be ridden on municipal roadways or County-owned property (e.g. public trails or parks).

As outlined in the Province of Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicles Act, certain types of ATVS and ORVs are permitted to travel on roadways ONLY if a municipality has a by-law permitting on-road ATV/ORV use. Currently, Haldimand County DOES NOT have a by-law permitting on-road ATV/ORV use and as such, on-road driving of ATVs/ORVs is prohibited.

As outlined in the County’s Parks & Facilities by-law, motorized recreational vehicles of any kind – meaning snowmobiles, go-carts, ATVS/ORVs or any vehicle propelled or driven by an internal combustion engine – are prohibited from traveling in any public park or County-maintained trail.

Individuals who witness the illegal operation of ATVs/ORVs are encouraged to contact Haldimand County By-Law or the Ontario Provincial Police. Anyone who is found to be in violation of the Off-Road Vehicles Act by driving the off-road vehicle on or across a highway is subject to a fine of $300, and subject to a minimum of $125 or a maximum fine of $50,000 for riding on County property.

Driving ATVs/ORVs on County roadways and public spaces poses a threat to community safety and can cause significant damage to property. Haldimand County appreciates the public’s cooperation in complying with the above-mentioned regulations and completing due diligence with respect to finding an appropriate, legal space to ride.

Portable Washrooms To Be Installed In Select County Parks

Since the Province of Ontario began loosening COVID-19 restrictions and allowing certain outdoor amenities to re-open (e.g. boat launches, non-contact sporting fields), Haldimand County has seen an increase in visitors utilizing these public spaces.

In order to address mounting health and safety concerns related to the absence of public washrooms in these areas (e.g. individuals relieving themselves in public), the County is moving forward with a plan to deploy portable washrooms to high traffic areas across the community.

The plan, which was developed in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health, will address the need for public washroom facilities through the duration of the pandemic, especially during the summer months.

Starting Friday, June 12, portable washrooms will be delivered to the parks and green spaces listed below. It will take a few days for all portable washrooms to be delivered and installed.

Caledonia

Kinsmen Park (1 unit at west end and 1 unit at east end)

LaFortune Park (1 unit in the upper park and 1 lower)

Seneca Park

Hagersville

Grant Kett Park

Hagersville Park

Cayuga

York Park

Bob Baigent Park

Dunnville

Wingfield Park

Farmers Market

Centennial Park

The portable washrooms will be equipped with hand sanitizer. All units will be cleaned and disinfected twice per week by a contractor. Members of the public are advised to utilize these facilities at their own discretion, practice proper hygiene and maintain physical distancing if waiting in line.

“I know this has been a frustrating issue for many, and I’m hopeful that bringing in portable units will result in a more positive park experience for everyone. We’ve worked closely with the Health Unit to ensure these facilities are being offered in compliance with current public health guidelines and recognize that while it may not be a perfect solution, it’s one that is most appropriate for our current circumstances,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt.

For the most up-to-date local information about COVID-19, including facility closures and municipal service options, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19 or follow the County on Facebook/Twitter. These channels are frequently updated with announcements regarding closures, re-openings and other important COVID-19 news.

For current public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit website.

 

 

 

Incoming weather system poses risk of flooding for Lake Erie shoreline

An incoming weather system has the potential to cause flooding along the Lake Erie shoreline Wednesday evening into Thursday.

  • A Flood Watch has been issued by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority for shoreline areas within its jurisdiction.
  • A Flood Warning has been issued by the Grand River Conservation Authority for areas within its jurisdiction.

Environment Canada has issued a strong wind warning, forecasting strong southwesterly winds of 50 km/h with gusts up to 100 km/h over Lake Erie Wednesday evening and into early Thursday morning. With the forecasted winds, a lake surge is expected to cause minor flooding in low lying areas along the Lake Erie shoreline and lower reaches of some tributaries. Wave uprush and increased shoreline erosion can be expected from this event.

Peak lake levels are currently expected to occur between late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Wave heights are forecast to reach up to 2 meters along the shoreline.

A Flood Zone lookup tool is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/floods where residents may check to see if their property would be impacted by a Zone 1 flood.

Members of the public are being urged to stay away from Lake Erie shoreline areas experiencing strong wave action and elevated water levels and parents are reminded to keep children and pets away from these areas.

High winds can toss loose objects and turn them into extremely dangerous projectiles. For this reason, residents are encouraged to shut storm shutters and tie down or secure outdoor items.

Haldimand County Emergency Services & Public Works Operations staff will be actively monitoring lake/road conditions and are prepared to respond if necessary. Residents should pay close attention to changing weather conditions and watch for updated flood messages. A flood guide for lakeshore property owners and other emergency preparedness resources can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca/floods.

Check the Haldimand County website, Facebook & Twitter pages for the most up-to-date flood messages. You can also tune in to 92.9 The Grand FM, Haldimand’s official emergency broadcast partner.

Haldimand, Norfolk Mayors issue joint statement on provincial re-opening

Today, Premier Doug Ford provided an update on the Province’s re-opening plan. As of Friday, June 12 at 12:01am, a number of public health unit regions will be able to move forward with stage 2 of re-opening. This includes re-opening a number of additional businesses and workplaces, including personal service settings, retail operations, sport fields and other outdoor amenities. Haldimand-Norfolk is not one of the regions permitted to enter stage 2.

Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt & Norfolk County Mayor Chopp issued the following in response to today’s Provincial announcement:

“Today we learned – along with all of you – that the provincial government will not be allowing Haldimand and Norfolk counties to proceed to the second stage of Ontario’s COVID-19 re-opening plan.

This decision was made by the provincial government after absolutely no consultation with our Medical Officer of Health, and for reasons that remain unclear.

Once again, we must ask our MPP Toby Barrett for clarity on his government’s decision-making process, and call on him to explain why it is that Haldimand and Norfolk are being left behind by the Province.”

Haldimand County Public Library now offering curbside pickup service

Over the past few weeks, Haldimand County Public Library has been working to finalize its curbside pickup service delivery model. As of June 4, residents may borrow books and other media by placing a hold through the library’s online catalogue and scheduling a curbside pickup appointment.

Reserving/requesting materials:

To borrow library items (including books, CDs & DVDs), residents may browse the library’s online catalogue as usual and place ‘holds’ on desired items. Residents may also call their library branch to place holds over the phone.

Picking up materials:

Once holds are placed on materials online or over the phone, staff will gather reserved items, place them in paper bags, and call the borrower to schedule a curbside pickup appointment. Borrowers will be provided a 30-minute timeslot to pick up materials from a numbered bin placed outside of the library branch. On pickup day, borrowers simply need to arrive and collect their materials from the numbered bin assigned to them.

Returning materials:

Individuals may return borrowed materials in their numbered bin when they arrive to pick up new items, or through the exterior drop boxes (24/7). Returned items are quarantined for a minimum of three days and subsequently processed using safe handling practices prior to next use.

Some limits on the number of appointment bookings per member will apply during the launch of this service. To ensure social distancing, participants are asked to approach bin areas only once vacated by other individuals.

For more information on library services during the pandemic, visit the Library’s website, e-mail library@haldimandcounty.on.ca or call your local branch.

Dunnville Farmers Market opening for curbside pickup May 30

The Dunnville Farmers Market’s Executive Board of Directors, in consultation with County and Health Unit officials, has developed a 2-phase approach for re-opening the market. A number of public health and safety protocols have been established to ensure the safety of vendors and the community, and as of May 30, the market will open for curbside pickup service on Saturdays only.

Placing an order for curbside pickup

During phase 1, customers will be able to place orders online via www.dunnvillefarmersmarket.ca between Monday morning at 8am and Thursday evening at 5pm. Vendors will follow-up with customers who have placed orders by Friday to confirm their order and provide their designated pickup time.

Picking up an order

On pickup day (Saturday), customers will be required to pull up to the main doorway to receive parking instructions. Once they have parked as directed, pre-paid customers will be asked to open their trunk or back door, and the vendor will deposit the goods in their vehicle. Walk-up customers are asked to visit the main doorway for pickup while keeping 2m apart from others.

Payment

Customers who wish to pay cash or use electronic point-of-pay at the time of pickup (e.g. debit) will be able to do so. Customers paying cash will need to have exact change ready in an envelope with the vendor’s name on it. Vendors will not be making change.

In between all interactions, vendors will be performing strict sanitization processes that align with provincial public health guidelines.

“Food safety has always been a top priority for us and it is even more so now in light of the current pandemic,” said James Richardson, President of the Dunnville Farmers Market Executive Board of Directors. “I appreciate the dedication of all executive members that have worked hard to develop our re-opening plan, as well as the guidance provided by Haldimand County and the Health Unit. We’ll continue working to provide safe access to healthy, local foods and look forward to seeing our loyal customers once again,” Richardson added.

Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt continues to urge the community to support local businesses. “I am thrilled to hear that the Farmers Market is re-opening and it is very welcome news for many,” Hewitt said. “I’m proud of the local business community’s response to these challenging circumstances and encourage everyone to keep supporting our farmers and independent businesses who are the backbone of our local economy.”

For the further information about the Dunnville Farmers Market’s new operating procedures and curbside pickup service, visit the Dunnville Farmers Market website.

For the most up-to-date local information about COVID-19, including facility closures and municipal service options, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19 or follow the County on Facebook/Twitter. These channels are frequently updated with announcements regarding closures, re-openings and other important COVID-19 news.

For current public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit website.

Haldimand County Fire Department Offers Safety Reminders For Home Fire Sprinkler Week (May 17-23)

Home Fire Sprinkler Week runs from May 17-23 in Ontario, and Haldimand County Fire Department has a issued a few important safety reminders for residents.

While there are no questions about the importance of early detection provided by smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (which are required in all households under the Fire Protection & Prevention Act), automatic sprinkler systems can provide even further protection against fires.

Home fire sprinklers will activate, contain and likely extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire. 90% of fires are contained by the operation of just one sprinkler head.

During a structure fire, the fire department likely uses eight-and-a-half times more water than an automatic sprinkler system will to contain a fire. Home fire sprinklers use only a fraction of the water used by fire department hoses; a sprinkler uses 38L-98L per minute compared to 1 fire department hose line at 946L per minute.

The largest factor to keep in mind in terms of early detection and early suppression is the construction materials being used in newly built homes. It is a fact that there is a significant flame-spread difference in new construction compared to older construction. Most structure fires of new home construction reach total loss before the local fire department arrives.

“Although automated sprinklers aren’t required, they are certainly worth considering as an added protective measure,” said Richard Geerdink, Fire Prevention Officer. “Approximately 400 Canadians die in fires each year. Installing both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers reduces the risk of death in a home fire by approximately 82%,” Geerdink added.

The Haldimand County Fire Department encourages all residents to practice fire safety, be aware of risks and have protection measures in place (e.g. smoke/CO alarms, fire extinguishers, 72 hour emergency kit). Many resources are available on the Fire Prevention page of HaldimandCounty.ca, including activity books for children.

Residents who have questions about fire prevention may also contact the Fire Prevention Bureau directly at 905-318-5932 for guidance. Assistance is available for low-income or vulnerable residents who need support obtaining fire/CO alarms or batteries.

Haldimand County Public Library Finalizing Plans For Curbside Pickup Service

As part of its economic recovery plan, the Government of Ontario revised its list of stage 1 openings to include curbside pickup services by libraries. Haldimand County Public Library is now accelerating its program to offer pickup services in early June, finalizing staffing, procedural and, most importantly, safety details.

“We are working with our partners at Haldimand County and are in the process of procuring necessary supplies and ensuring adherence to best practices so that we can meet the needs of members effectively and wisely; we value our community’s patience and are eager to begin serving it again,” said Paul Diette, CEO of HPCL.

Details about the library’s curbside pickup program and it’s official start date will be posted on the library’s website and its social media platforms.

Residents who would like to make use of the library’s numerous online offerings or physically borrow books/media (once this service becomes available) may e-mail the library with their name and residential address to sign up for a library card.

For the most up-to-date local information about COVID-19, including facility closures and municipal service options, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19 or follow the County on Facebook/Twitter. These channels are frequently updated with announcements regarding closures, re-openings and other important COVID-19 news.

For current public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit website.

Haldimand County announces re-opening of boat launches, tennis/pickleball courts and skate/BMX parks

Haldimand County will be re-opening some of its outdoor amenities as early as Saturday, May 16. The re-openings are being implemented in response to yesterday’s Provincial announcement regarding Phase 1 of Ontario’s re-opening plan. Provincial rules limiting gatherings to 5 persons or less remain in effect.

Among the businesses/activities permitted to re-open under the new Provincial rules are marinas (May 16), golf courses (May 16) and outdoor non-team sporting competitions (May 19). As such, the County will be re-opening the following amenities:

Boat launches – Saturday, May 16, 2020

All public boat launches EXCEPT the Port Maitland West launch (accessed via the Esplanade) will be open for use starting this Saturday. Port Maitland West will not open until piers and beaches are open for normal public use. Docks will not be put in immediately as they require inspections and seasonal maintenance, which will take some time.

Parking lots at trailheads/public parks – Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Barricades at green space & trail parking areas will be removed by staff over the course of the long weekend. All parking lots at County-operated green spaces and trails are expected to be open by Tuesday.

Parks – Tuesday,  May 19, 2020

All County parks will be re-open for use on Tuesday, with the exception of the Port Maitland Park (pier, and beach). Formerly, parks were open for walk-through access only. Fishing will now be permitted from riverbanks in County parks and it is now appropriate, based on public health guidelines, for residents to enjoy a picnic or game of catch with members of their household while practicing social distancing with others. Playgrounds, pavilions & picnic tables remain off limits until further notice.

Tennis/pickleball courts, disc golf courses & skate/BMX parks – Tuesday, May 19, 2020

All tennis & pickleball courts will re-open for use on Tuesday, as well as the disc golf course at Lafortune Park and all skate/BMX parks. All other sporting fields and courts remain closed.

Residents are asked to be patient while staff remove barricades and amend posted signage to reflect these changes.

“With the loosening of restrictions and greater access to outdoor amenities, we expect that the public will be respectful of social distancing guidelines, not congregate in groups larger than 5 people, and keep 6ft away from other individuals,” said Mayor Ken Hewitt. “While these re-openings are a step in the right direction & welcome news, disregarding the guidelines puts our community at risk. I implore everyone to exercise common sense, be vigilant and share these spaces responsibly,” Hewitt added.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the COVID-19 enforcement hotline at 519-428-8019 to report violations of individuals who are not following social distancing guidelines. To ensure continued access to parks, residents are urged to demonstrate personal responsibility, practice social distancing and not take advantage of public green spaces (e.g: congregate in groups) so they can be enjoyed, especially as warmer weather approaches.

For the most up-to-date local COVID-19 information, including municipal service options, facility/amenity closures and program cancellations, visit HaldimandCounty.ca/COVID-19.

For up-to-date public health information, visit the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit’s website.