Outside burning banned
County-wide ban imposed to prevent fires and protect air quality
To prevent the possible spread of fires and ensure our already forest-fire polluted air isn’t made worse, Northumberland County has imposed a total ban on outside burning.
“This burn ban has been enacted in coordination with fire services across the region to reduce the risk of wildfires and to protect public safety during this period of elevated fire danger,” said Mike Robinson, President, Northumberland County Fire Chiefs Association. Robinson is Hamilton Township’s Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services.
Effective August 6 and until further notice, all forms of open-air burning are strictly prohibited within Northumberland County, including but not limited to:
Backyard campfires or fire pits
Brush and yard waste burning
Agricultural burns
Fireworks
Any fire not contained within a CSA-approved outdoor appliance (where permitted)
“Residents are asked to remain vigilant, report any signs of fire immediately, and do their part to help prevent the spread of fire during these hazardous conditions.” Robinson said.
“We will continue to monitor weather and environmental conditions closely and will lift the ban as soon as it is safe to do so,” he said.
You can check air quality conditions at provincial observation stations in Peterborough and Belleville. The website provides the latest information on PM 2.5, dangerous particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less; nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Levels of all three contaminants have been elevated in recent days due to the forest fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Details on those fires are available at the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. At 7:45 p.m. today it showed 31 new fires had been reported today and there were 749 active fires, including 194 that were out of control and being fought, and 311 that were out of control and being monitored.
Manitoba has the most out-of-control fires – 161. There are currently 71 fires in Ontario that are out of control. So far this year, 6.9 million hectares (17 million acres) have burned.
Home sales and prices jumped in July
Home sales and prices jumped in Trent Hills in July when 20 homes sold for a median price of $685,000.
That was up from 14 sales and a median price of $532,500 in June. Sales were also up compared to a year ago when 12 homes sold but prices were higher then with a median of $778,250.
“We are seeing an increase in sales across most of our region, month over month, while average prices have declined in nearly every area,” said Christine Riley, President of the Central Lake Association of Realtors. “Improved affordability and stable borrowing costs are allowing more buyers to re-enter the market and secure housing. Decreases to borrowing costs could help even more Ontarians take that important step toward homeownership.”
For Northumberland County as a whole, 134 homes sold for a median of $690,000 in July. Sales were up from 111 homes last year and prices were up from a median of $675,000. In June, 130 homes sold in the county and the median price was $690,000.
In July in Trent Hills, 61 homes were listed for sale and there were 160 active listings at the end of the month. Homes that sold were on the market for 42 days. In June, 59 homes were listed and there were 149 active listings. The homes that sold were on the market for an average of 51 days.
“As market activity continues to strengthen, (the association) remains committed to ensuring that attainable housing is available across the communities we serve,” said Wendy Giroux, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Lakes association. “Housing is a fundamental need, and we will continue to make it a priority.”
Across Canada the rental market is undergoing a dramatic shift, according to a recent report by Bryan Yu, Chief Economist with Central 1 Credit Union.
“Rent is declining in key markets, and it is a signal that vacancy rates are rising,” Yu said. “Softer market conditions are music to the ears of renters who have endured severe rent increases in recent years amidst robust demand even as supply has increased. The average rent paid in Canada has climbed by 40 per cent from pre-pandemic 2019 through 2024 to reach $1,402.”
Yu forecasts the rental market will be soft for several years as more units are completed and immigration is restricted.
“More rental housing supply is incoming. Canada has been successful in bringing much needed rental housing to market in recent years, even if not meeting the surge in demand (up until recently).”
The changes will help renters, especially since the economy is likely to remain weak over the next several years due to Trumponomics. “A softening rental market will lighten the financial load on younger and lower income households, which have also experienced increased debt burdens,” Yu said.
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