Looking up at the branches of my favourite tree, the evidence is still there — lush green leaves on one side, charred branches on the other. A reminder of the devastating fire that swept my family’s property nearly 55 years ago. It wasn’t a forest fire, but it could have been just as deadly.

It was July 1975. My dad had spent the day clearing fallen limbs and brush around our tiny, two-bedroom cottage on the Severn. If there’s anything you should know about my dad, it’s that he’s determined. Often working past the point of exhaustion for a job done right. That day was no different. By nightfall, sleep took hold hard and fast – a sleep he may never have woken from, had it not been for the explosion.

Snapping awake, my dad ran to the front door to find our deck engulfed in flames. The closest wall of our cottage was igniting alongside it. Next door, our neighbour’s place was nearly burned to the ground. Our quiet little bay, usually peaceful under the stars, glowed with red and orange as flames soared into the sky.

In a frantic race against the fire, my dad grabbed a garden hose, only to find it melted from the heat. He began hauling buckets of water instead. It was there at the water’s edge where he found gas bubbling out of the neighbour’s boat. Thinking fast, he untied the boat and pushed it into the bay. This cleared the way for firefighters and fellow cottagers arriving by boat to reach the shore and help battle the blaze.

With only water access, their combined efforts and quick actions saved most of our cottage. Our neighbour’s cottage was lost completely.

Had that gas can not exploded, my dad likely wouldn’t have survived, I wouldn’t be here telling this story, and the fire could have spread, consuming the forest and homes in its path. Though this particular fire was sparked by human error, it serves as a reminder: in Muskoka’s wild landscape, a fire – whether from a lightning strike, a tossed cigarette, or a lingering bonfire – can become a disaster within minutes.

A land with fire in its pastWildfires are not new to Muskoka. Between 1910 and 1920, a series of wildfires tore through the region. In fact, Colin McGregor — great-grandson of George Page, the first superintendent of Swift Dam (now Lock 43–Swift Rapids on the Trent-Severn Waterway) — has preserved family recollections dating back over a century. Among them are memories shared by his great-aunt, Tam Hopesmith (née Page), of a wildfire that ripped through the south side of the Swift in 1918.

“The trees were beautiful — great big, beautiful pine — and then the fire went through,” Tam recalled in 1999. She was 87 at the time, recounting her memories to Colin. “It would hit the pine trees and be just like a rocket going off, the way it would climb up them. We laid in bed and watched at night, and it was just something. I can still see it.”

Every community has its story of a great fire. For Port Carling, that story unfolded over the nights of October 27 and 28, 1931, when flames spread rapidly, destroying much of the town’s Main Street and its businesses. The cause was never determined, but the timing couldn’t have been worse — the fire struck during the depths of the Great Depression, compounding economic struggles in a town already hit hard from declining tourism.

But the most devastating blaze in Muskoka’s history came earlier – The Great Fire of 1913. It consumed 175,840 acres and swept across several townships, including Anstruther, Burleigh, and Cavendish – now part of the Kawartha Highlands. The fire was fueled by dry slash left from harvesting pine trees.

The lesson is clear: fire moves fast and can be devastating.

Muskoka’s growing wildfire riskFrom these lessons, Muskoka has adapted. Innovation has followed with aerial firefighting and cloud seeding experiments. But the risks are growing with hotter, drier summers, increased human activity, and storms leaving forests littered with limbs and branches.

Globally, wildfire conditions are intensifying. According to the University of Alberta, the world’s eight most extreme wildfire weather years have occurred in the last decade, driven by rising temperatures and decreasing humidity.

Closer to home, 2023 was a record-breaking wildfire year in Canada. In June 2023 alone, wildfire smoke was estimated to have cost Ontario over $1.2 billion in health impacts, including premature deaths and increased hospital visits.

Still, predicting any one season remains a challenge.

“Each fire season is highly variable and difficult to predict,” explains Alison Lake, Fire Information Officer with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). “Fire activity can change quickly within a given week, month, or across the season. Conditions are continuously and carefully monitored to ensure sufficient resources are available to respond to wildland fires.” 

Fighting fire on Muskoka’s frontlinesFor firefighters like Lukas Chew of Gravenhurst, battling a wildfire is an entirely different beast from a house fire.

“The first one I ever ran was overwhelming,” Lukas recalls. “It was a large farmer’s field that took off into the trees. At first, it was exciting — the adrenaline kicks in — and then, overwhelm. You have the solution in your hands — water — but not enough people to distribute it to every point of the fire.”

With limited crews on scene, the team had to make quick decisions: protect structures, extinguish advancing “fingers” of fire, and avoid being bordered by the flames.

Unlike a residential fire, Lukas says wildfires are nearly impossible to box in. Embers can drift, and fire can travel underground along root systems. “If the wind takes off and it gets into the dense bush, you get a phenomenon called ‘crowning,’ where the tops of the trees are on fire and it jumps from treetop to treetop,” he says. “When you hear that over the air, it sends a chill down your spine.”

Through experience, Lukas had learned to slow down and think critically: Where has the fire been? Where is it now? Where is it likely to go? These questions shape wildfire strategy. Access routes, water sources — creeks, ponds, even swimming pools — and the distance from roads all matter.

“Life is always the first priority,” Lukas stresses. “Then incident stabilization, and then property conservation.”

How wildfires start—and how fast they spreadWhile lightning can ignite wildfires, many are still caused by human activities: unattended campfires, cigarette butts, or equipment sparks. In early spring, dried grass and leaves create a tinderbox ready to burn.

“A simple act of having an outdoor fire in dry conditions can escalate quickly,” says Alison.

In Muskoka’s forests, a small flame can double in size every minute under the right conditions. A passing breeze or nearby debris can turn a manageable fire into an out-of-control blaze in less than an hour.

The role of the communityWildfire prevention doesn’t fall to one person or profession – it’s something we all share. In fact, nearly 90 percent of wildfires that start within 3 km of a community are caused by human activity. Fire crews and municipalities work hard to prepare, but the responsibility also lives with us: property owners, weekend visitors, and cottagers.

The Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (FOCA) encourages landowners to take a FireSmart approach by thinking of their property in zones – from the space right beside the building to the tree line in the distance. Each zone calls for its own kind of attention:

Immediate Zone (0-1.5m)This is the most crucial area. Clear away brush, twigs, and anything flammable right up against your deck or siding.

Intermediate Zone (1.5-10m)Here, the focus is on interrupting a fire’s path before it gets too close. Trim back shrubs, especially evergreens, and thin out crowded trees.

Extended Zone (10-30m)Creating space in this zone gives fire fewer ways to move. Remove low-hanging branches, clear out deadfall, and make sure tree canopies don’t overlap.

Even knowing simple facts – like Ontario’s wildfire season officially running from April 1 to October 31 – can help residents and tourists stay alert.

Lessons learnedFor firefighters like Lukas, each fire leaves a lesson.

“One thing people don’t realize is how fast things can get out of control,” he says. “You think you have time – but you don’t. When conditions are right, it can take minutes for a fire to overtake an area.”

Be proactive. Remove fire hazards around cottages. Follow burn regulations. Have an evacuation plan.

When reporting a fire, be ready to share the fire’s location, the colour of the smoke, and the estimated size of the fire or area burning.

And never underestimate the power of a small ember in the right (or wrong) conditions.

Despite the growing risk, Muskoka is ahead of many regions when it comes to wildfire readiness. Community education, early-season preparation, and a strong connection between municipalities and emergency services are helping protect this beloved landscape.

“Muskoka is doing a good job in promoting awareness and maintaining readiness,” says Alison. “It’s about adapting and staying prepared for each unique season.”

While we can’t always predict the season ahead, we can count on each other. Through quick thinking, community strength, and the lessons etched into Muskoka’s history, we can continue to adapt and innovate ways to protect the land, the people, and the little creatures that call Muskoka home.