Grass, brush fires keep firefighters busy in Yarmouth
Grass, brush fires keep firefighters busy in Yarmouth
28 March 2009
published by thechronicleherald.ca
Canada — Fire engines spent much of the day responding to grass and brush fires in the Yarmouth area, rolling out again at 3:30 p.m. to attack a stubborn blaze where Mainshore and Pembroke roads meet.
A large abandoned, 2 1/2-storey house was destroyed Thursday night on Pembroke Road when it was engulfed by flames from an out-of-control brush fire.
Yarmouth Fire Chief Ken Kelly said the house collapsed eventually as firefighters prevented the fire from spreading.
The provincial fire marshals office was notified of the fire and the matter is under police investigation, said Chief Kelly.
The abandoned home was owned by an out-of-province owner and a new, rectified deed drawn up to correct some erroneous property line descriptions was signed just five weeks ago, according to government tax records.
RCMP attended the Pembroke Road fire and later went to another grass fire in nearby Sandford where flames were visible for much of the evening near the public wharf.
The Yarmouth Fire Department has responded to at least 15 grass and brush fires since mid-week, said Chief Kelly.
The fire calls are very time-consuming, he said.
The Department of Natural Resources has added a special page to its website, dispelling some longstanding myths about spring grass burning.
The department says such burning is dangerous and destructive and actually reduces new grass yield by 50 to 70 per cent, instead of improving the new crop as was once thought.
Some people also believe burning controls weeds, but the web page says weeds leave their seeds behind in the soil during the previous autumn, and after burning, weeds can actually grow faster.
