Always check before you burn

Burn restrictions can change quickly in the province so the best way to keep on top of things is to stay informed on the government’s website novascotia.ca/burnsafe.

John Davison, the coordinator of the Regional Emergency Management Organization, said burn restrictions are posted daily at 2 p.m. from March to October and everyone should check out the site before they think about burning.

“This past weekend is a good example of how burn restrictions can be imposed or lifted without any notice,” he said. “On Friday, the province’s domestic burning ban was in place, but campfire and open pit fires were allowed under the state of emergency guidelines.  However, by Saturday evening, this province had full burn restrictions in place.”

If the burnsafe map is :
Red – open fires are not permitted
Yellow – domestic burning is permitted only between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Green -  domestic burning is permitted between 2 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Grey – open fires are not permitted between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Ian Rankin, Minister of Lands and Forestry, said dry, warm, and windy conditions across the province pose a significant risk in forests so residents must remain vigilant about fire safety.

"These fires create anxiety within communities and have the potential to cause serious harm to homes, infrastructure, and our natural environment. Many agencies are called to respond, and I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the effort this weekend,” he said.  

Davison said novascotia.ca/burnsafe also has a list of frequently asked questions for people wondering about permits, clarification on campfires, open fires, woods, etc.    He said the guidelines are in place to protect residents, wildlife, and firefighters who shouldn’t be responding to calls that can be avoided.

“It is a good resource we are lucky to have in our province,” he said. “It is always better to be safe than sorry so please check the site before you think about burning.”