DRYDEN, Ont. — The Ontario government has announced further restrictions on certain industrial activities in Northwestern Ontario due to the large number of forest fires in the region.
The measures previously applied to higher-risk forestry operations.
A new announcement Tuesday added activities in the mining, rail, construction and transportation industries that have the potential to cause sparks and ignite fires.
Examples of activities now suspended include certain specific drilling operations, using heavy machinery with rubber tires and no chains, and rail production grinding.
Grinding is a procedure for removing imperfections from sections of track, using specialized equipment.
The restrictions come into effect July 21 and are under the authority of an emergency order currently in place for Northwestern Ontario.
Measures announced on Monday for the forest industry included bans on blasting related to road work, the use of mechanized power equipment and power saws for harvesting or processing wood, and all hot work such as welding, torching and grinding
The restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
Greg Rickford, the minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, said the government appreciates the ongoing cooperation of industry partners as the fire situation in the Northwest continues to escalate.
