According to the Woodstock Fire Department, fires can easily start during dry weather conditions.
WOODSTOCK - One person's cigarette butt can quickly become another person's fire.
The Woodstock Fire Department is warning against casually tossing those cigarette butts aside. Public Information Coordinator Lisa Woods says they have already had to deal with one fire near the Woodstock Hospital that could have been started by a stray butt.
"We did have a fire on Monday and it was in an open area just outside the Woodstock Hospital. So we are asking people to take caution; that's obviously a spot we wouldn't want a fire to occur. So mulch, grass - everything is very dry."
Woods says in this kind of weather when the grass is tinder dry, it doesn't take much to spark a fire.
"They can get into the grass and sit and smolder for hours before they actually become a fire, but they can also start a fire very quickly. So we want people to think twice before they discard their cigarette butts out the window or throwing them around. They really should be soaked in water and then discarded after that."
She also warns people to stick close when cooking outside.
"Be careful with your barbeques! And any other propane fired appliances you might have outside. The radiant heat can cause problems as well. It's not something we see a lot of fires happen, but in extreme dry weather like this it can be a problem if they're not on a non-combustible surface."
At this point the City of Woodstock does not have an open burn ban in effect, but Woods says they are monitoring the situation hour by hour.

SWPH Issues Cold Weather Alert
Oxford OPP Briefs - Dec. 15th 2025
White Christmas Not Guaranteed for Oxford
PJHL Recap - Dec 12th to Dec 14th
Holiday Safety Tips from OCAR
Paris Man Charged with Impaired
Rob Reiner Dead at 78
Christmas Lights Stolen in Ingersoll
UPDATE: Cyber Security Experts Investigating Oxford Incident
PJHL Preview - Dec. 12th to Dec. 14th
Tour of Lights Begins this Weekend
Drunk Drivers Charged in Woodstock
Week Three Results for Festive RIDE Campaign
Woodstock Passes 2026 Capital Budget
WFD Respond to Two Fires in the City
An Impaired Driver was Caught in EZT
Oxford OPP Investigating Serious Collision
Interview with the Warden - December 11th, 2025
SWOX Christmas Lights Contest Returns!
Ingersoll Choral Society Presents: Christmas Bells
Comments
Add a comment