Open-air fire bans gradually being lifted in Niagara

As anyone who has experienced a Niagara winter can attest, weather patterns in one area of the region can be vastly different than others.

Fort Erie can be getting hammered by lake-effect slow, while just up the QEW — and especially across the Garden City Skyway — one might still be able to see grass.

The same goes for precipitation and how it relates to decisions to ban open-air burning.

Early last week when Niagara was experiencing a rainless August, most area municipalities — all but Wainfleet — implemented bans, prohibiting not only bonfires, but cooking fires, sky lanterns and fireworks.

As the week progressed, conditions started to change, and Niagara finally got some much-needed rain.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder said the roughly 20 milli