Headlines News
Belleville issues state of emergency to respond to flooding

April 11, 2014, Belleville, Ont. – Belleville's firefighters are so busy
helping with sandbagging efforts due to flooding that an outdoor
burning ban has been brought in to help prevent fires.

Deputy
fire chief Bruce Greatrix says residents of rural areas around the city
are normally allowed to set controlled fires to get rid of their yard
waste at this time of year, if they have a permit.

But the
burning ban has been implemented because fire crews don't have time to
respond to outdoor fires, which can quickly spread if it gets windy.

Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis declared a state of emergency Thursday because of rising water levels on the Moira River.

He
says proclaiming the state of emergency allows the city to recruit
volunteers to help build sand bag barriers around homes and property,
among other protections.

Quinte Conservation issued a flood warning Wednesday for the Moira River, north of Belleville's urban area.

Officials
say flow rates were increasing again Friday, and heavy rain expected
early next week could make the situation even worse.

The area was
inundated by flooding in the spring of 2008, and officials predict the
situation could be almost as severe this year.

Flood warnings have also been issued for the Salmon and Napanee Rivers, and for the Trent River from Trenton to Hastings.

A woman and her young daughter were rescued from their Belleville home Thursday by firefighters using an inflatable raft.