FORT FRANCES – A Fort Frances man has been fined and ordered to pay forest fire suppression costs under the Forest Fires Prevention Act.
Geoffrey Stanger was convicted at trial and fined $800 for starting a fire without a permit and $800 for failing to tend a fire. He was also ordered to pay $800 for the cost of putting out the fire.
Court heard that on May 10, 2017, a conservation officer responded to a call regarding a forest fire burning in Halkirk Township, east of Fort Frances. An investigation determined that the origin of the fire was an unattended rubbish pile on Stanger’s property. Stanger did not have a permit to burn during the day. Firefighters from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry responded to the call.
Justice of the Peace Pat Clysdale-Cornell heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Fort Frances, on June 20, 2018.
The ministry reminds the public that all forest fires are investigated to determine their cause. A person can be held responsible for the costs of extinguishing a forest fire, as well as for any property damage incurred. Anyone who starts a fire must keep it under control at all times and extinguish it properly before leaving the area.
To report a natural resources violation, call the MNRF TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). And visit Ontario.ca/mnrftips to view an interactive, searchable map of unsolved cases. You may be able to provide information that will help solve a case.
