Two Cochrane men fined $1,100 for starting rural grass fire

Two northern Ontario men were fined $1,100 each after pleading guilty to burning grass without a permit last spring.

Thomas and Bruce Mann of Cochrane were charged under the Forest Fires Prevention Act and found guilty in a remote hearing Sept. 12, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources said in a news release Friday.

Justice of the Peace Estelle Bérubé heard on the evening of April 25, ministry fire staff were called to a grass fire at a rural residence in Brower Township east of Cochrane.

"Fire ranger crews were able to contain and suppress the fire," the ministry said.

"Conservation officers investigated the cause of the fire and determined that both Thomas and Bruce Mann were responsible for starting it."

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This year, Ontario had 483 forest fires that burned 89,842 hectares of land.

There were a total of 45 forest fires in the Cochrane District that burned more than 18,500 ha this year.

The first fire in the Cochrane District, COC001, started April 25 about 7:30 p.m. and burned 9.8 ha, according to the ministry forest fire info map.

There are three active wildfires in the Thunder Bay District that are either under control or being observed.

By ensuring landowners adhere to the Forest Fires Prevention Act, the province said it is safeguarding the public.

"To report a natural resource problem or provide information about an unsolved case, members of the public can call the ministry TIPS line toll free at 1-877-847-7667," the ministry said.

"You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS. For more information about unsolved cases, please visit ontario.ca/mnrftips."