Growler Lake Fire Evacuation Plan
For a property on Growler Lake in the Municipality of Dysart et al (Guilford Township, Haliburton County), your fire evacuation plan must account for the specific geographic features of the lake, local emergency protocols, and the single-access nature of the area.
🚗 1. Land Evacuation Route
The primary designated facility serving your immediate area of Dysart et al is:
Regional Backup Shelters
If a fire forces residents to evacuate further south or into neighbouring townships, Haliburton County emergency management typically activates one of these primary regional facilities:
West Guilford Community Centre
Directions
Website
Located at 1061 Kennisis Lake Road, which is physically closer to the West Guilford side if routes to Haliburton town are blocked.
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena / Minden Community Centre
Directions
Website
Located at 55 Parkside St in Minden. This is a massive, modern county hub frequently deployed for 24-hour emergency sheltering, equipped with food stations, device charging, and medical/paramedic support.
Note: In a live disaster, never self-evacuate to a building without verifying it has been activated. Official instructions specifying exactly which arena or community centre to report to will be broadcast immediately via Canoe FM 100.9.
🚗 1. Land Evacuation Route
- Primary Outflow: Properties on Growler Lake are located along Growler Lake Drive. Your primary evacuation route is to take Growler Lake Drive eastbound/southbound toward the main municipal roads connecting to the town of Haliburton.
- Dead-End Constraints: Parts of Growler Lake Drive have limited turnaround space. If a wildfire blocks this single road, land evacuation may become impossible. [1]
- Muster Point: If Growler Lake Drive is entirely cut off by a forest fire, the lake itself acts as your safety zone. Move to the water's edge or a sturdy dock.
- Public Portages: The Growler Lake Property Owners' Association and municipal documents note public portages to Klaxon Lake and Claypack Lake. If you own a canoe or small boat, keep it accessible as an emergency water taxi to reach opposite shores or adjacent water bodies away from the flames.
- Emergency Management: In Dysart et al, the Fire Chief serves as the Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC). During an active fire emergency, official evacuation alerts and instructions are broadcast over local radio stations (such as Canoe FM 100.9 or Moose FM 93.5), the Dysart et al Corporate Website, and municipal social media accounts.
- Burn Status: Always stay updated on the current fire risk level. Dysart et al strictly enforces "no daytime burning" from April 1 to October 31, and total county-wide fire bans are frequently enacted during hot, dry spells.
- Life-Threatening Emergency / Active Fire Reporting: 9-1-1
- Dysart Fire Department (Non-Emergency/Inquiries): 705-457-1740
- Haliburton County Paramedic Services: 705-457-1616
The primary designated facility serving your immediate area of Dysart et al is:
- A.J. LaRue Arena / Haliburton Community Centre
- Location: Town of Haliburton (135 Maple Ave area)
- Details: This is the municipality's core community space used for emergency response planning and public shelter setup.
Regional Backup Shelters
If a fire forces residents to evacuate further south or into neighbouring townships, Haliburton County emergency management typically activates one of these primary regional facilities:
West Guilford Community Centre
Directions
Website
Located at 1061 Kennisis Lake Road, which is physically closer to the West Guilford side if routes to Haliburton town are blocked.
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena / Minden Community Centre
Directions
Website
Located at 55 Parkside St in Minden. This is a massive, modern county hub frequently deployed for 24-hour emergency sheltering, equipped with food stations, device charging, and medical/paramedic support.
Note: In a live disaster, never self-evacuate to a building without verifying it has been activated. Official instructions specifying exactly which arena or community centre to report to will be broadcast immediately via Canoe FM 100.9.
Download a One Page version of the Fire Evacuation Plan here
| One Page Evacuation Plan.pdf |