Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told reporters Thursday that a $25,000 fine for violating burn restrictions is about preventing more wildfires. (Nova Scotia Government)
With wildfires breaking out in western Canada, Nova Scotia has increased the fine for violating the daily burn restrictions to $25,000.
From March 15 to Oct. 15, daily burn restrictions are in place across the province to help prevent wildfires.
Burning is not permitted anywhere between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. because that is when the wildfire risk is greatest.
Premier Tim Houston told reporters on Thursday that the increased fine is to help prevent the wildfires from happening in the first place. The basic fine for violating burn restrictions is $237.50. The larger fine is in place until the end of wildfire season.
“We encourage all Nova Scotians to check before you burn,” Houston said. “Check the website, reach out to find out what’s the situation in your community. … With the weather changing, the risk increases and we know the experience that we had in this province last year and we are seeing what is happening across the country, significant forest fires across the country. We should do what we can to prepare and encourage prevention.”
Last spring, wildfires in southwestern Nova Scotia and in the Halifax area consumed more than 25,000 hectares and destroyed 200 homes.
Houston said people should check the province’s BurnSafe map every day to check the restrictions in their area.
The daily burn restrictions also now apply to campgrounds. Open fires like campfires are permitted only after 2 p.m. when the BurnSafe map is green or after 7 p.m. when the map is yellow. Those are the same standards for open fires in people’s backyards.
The province increased the fine to $25,000 last year when the Nova Scotia wildfires were still burning. Houston said Thursday he’s confident that if somebody violates the burning restrictions, they will be fined.
“So the enforcement is there. We’re serious about preparation, we’re serious about prevention. I would personally push for if anyone ignores the burn ban, I want them charged for sure.”
So far this year, crews have responded to 41 wildfires across the province that have burned about 39 hectares.
A water bomber flies through the smoke of a forest fire in Shelburne County. Photo Communications Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston wants to ensure every bit of available help is coming to fight the largest forest fires in the province’s history.
A letter sent from the Premier’s office to the Prime Minister Wednesday lays out a long list of needs including military personnel and equipment, helicopters, vehicles and temporary housing for firefighters coming from out of province.
An update provided by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Thursday morning shows approximately 20,000 hectares are burning across 16, the largest wildfire is in Barrington Lake in Shelburne County at 18,173 hectares.
During Thursday’s briefing, Premier Houston said the list of requests included in the letter is not meant to be exhaustive.
He is asking the federal government to inform Nova Scotia of other supports that could be helpful instead of waiting for a request.
In the letter he states, “You know your resources best and know what can help in a situation like this. Given the seriousness, any other resources at the disposal of the Federal Government that we haven’t mentioned but could help, please send. We ask for your common sense and support. If we have used the wrong terminology in any of our asks, or there are issues with the format of the ask, please be proactive and help us assist struggling Nova Scotians as quickly as possible.”
Houston says he learned lessons from Hurricane Fiona in September of 2022 that he doesn’t want to see repeated in this emergency.
“Once we’d kind of been through the urgency of the crisis, in my discussions with the Prime Minister, he looked me in the eye at one point and said the Nova Scotia didn’t fill out the proper forms and that’s why the support hadn’t come as quickly. I of course disagreed with that assessment but suggested that even if that assessment were true, there’s a time to act and there’s a time to get more fulsome paperwork later, and there was a time to act and it was missed,” said Houston.
“So, with that experience in mind I was not willing to leave any room for a repeat when people’s houses were literally burning. So, we fill out the paperwork and we go through the channels but at the same time it’s my hope that the Prime Minister and members of cabinet, members of parliaments recognize that there’s a time for action and the time for action is right now.”
The Premier’s letter also looks ahead for ways the federal government can support Nova Scotia once the fires are out.
The province is looking for early access to federal disaster relief funding through the Disaster Financial Assistance Agreement, and commitments to match Red Cross donations and rebuild critical infrastructure.
Houston also asks for Ottawa to provide a temporary leave benefit to assist people unable to work because of being displaced or firefighters taking time from their jobs.
The Premier said in a normal year Nova Scotia would face fewer than 100 wildfires. This year there have already been 196 and counting.
He said the increase in number and size of the fires has overwhelmed provincial resources well beyond what they are normally prepared to fight.
While thousands of people have been displaced, Houston says the situation could be much worse if not for the bravery and dedication of everyone involved.
“We’ve never faced wildfires like this before and we have them all at the same time. I think the remarkable thing that people should not lose sight of is zero missing people. Zero reported deaths. Zero serious injury. I mean, that says a lot about the response,” said Houston.
Fire crews are fighting a forecast calling for dry conditions and temperatures in the 30-degree Celsius range Thursday.
A reprieve may be on the way as Environment Canada is calling for showers to begin overnight Friday and rain continuing to fall over the weekend through Tuesday.
A team of Nova Scotia firefighters is expected to return from the Northwest Territories to join the effort this weekend.
The province has already received support from other provinces in the form of water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick and firefighting personnel from Prince Edward Island.
Another press briefing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to provide an update on how the firefighting efforts are proceeding.
A fire official looks at area affected by fire. Photo Communications Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia Government has banned all activity in wooded areas across the province.
Premier Tim Houston announced the measures which include all recreational and commercial activity during an update on Tuesday.
Houston said some commercial exceptions may be issued, but permission must be granted by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.
The province has already issued a full burn ban across Nova Scotia until June 25 and Halifax had banned all off-highway vehicles from their trails.
Houston said six illegal fires were reported Monday night and people need to follow the ban, for everyone’s safety.
“Six illegal burns reported just last night is just mind-boggling. So, no burning. For God’s sake, stop burning, stop flicking your cigarette butts out your car window, just stop it. Our resources are stretched incredibly thin right now fighting existing fires,” said Houston.
Manager of Forest Protection with the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables Scott Tingley confirmed the fires raging across the province are beyond the department’s capacity.
“These fires are beyond our resource capacity and that’s why we’re prioritizing resources and that’s why they remain out of control. That’s why we continue to ask for help and bring in additional resources,” said Tingley. “This is unfortunately, the nature of emergency response.”
Tingley says the province has already had 195 fires burning 13,000 hectares this year.
There are currently 13 active wildfires, eight of those started Monday and three are out of control.
The forest fires in Tantallon and Shelburne are having an impact on Queens.
As of Tuesday, the fire in neighbouring Shelburne County is still out of control, burning over 10,000 hectares.
Department of Natural Resources and Renewables has dispatched 50 DNRR firefighters and three helicopters to the fire, joined by 40 local volunteer firefighters and two water bombers from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the municipality will be offering the use of the South Shore Regional Airport to the DNRR helicopters.
Norman says that would save the helicopters from making the almost 400km round trip to Debert where they currently refuel.
A fuel tanker will need to be brought to the site as the fuel used by South Shore Flying Club members isn’t compatible with the water bombing helicopters.
DNRR is already using the airport to support and refuel the smaller fire watch prop planes.
Norman says while Queens has been unaffected by fires so far, she is still concerned.
“Rivers are at end of August levels,” said Norman. “Lakes are low, woods are dry; exceptionally, exceptionally dry, dry terrain.”
Norman says she’s been getting calls from people requesting the Region close all municipal parks as a precaution.
Those are included under the provincial ban and are now off limits.
Norman says she agrees with those measures and asks Queens residents to refrain from taking any chances.
“The least spark. The hot exhaust. There’s so much that can trigger a fire with this dryness. I ask that people who smoke, I don’t believe any cars come with ashtrays in them anymore. So perhaps, just keep a bottle of water with a cap on it in your car to put your cigarette butts in,” said Norman.
Provincial officials are warning the smoke from the fires can seriously affect the air quality in surrounding areas.
Residents are being told to close windows and doors, especially at night when the cooler air and clear skies allow the smoke to travel further.
While not as serious as an out-of-control fire, several businesses and organizations reported losing their internet connection on Monday, affecting point of sale payments, access to online business software and the ability to communicate to clients through e-mail and social media.
The South Shore Regional Centre for Education is also reporting issues with tracking absences through their Powerschool software that could result in a false notification of a student absence.
Installation of a new self-registration system at Queens General Hospital also had to be postponed.
The internet connection appears to have been restored by later in the day.
The province has also established a text line to help people cope with the stress of the fires.
Nova Scotians can text HOPENS to 393939 to receive supportive text messages that are aimed at helping develop healthy personal coping skills and resiliency.
A DNNR helicopter is unloaded in a field near the South Horseshoe Lake fire. Photo Communications Nova Scotia
Crews battling the forest fire near South Horseshoe Lake in Yarmouth appear to be getting it under control.
A statement from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables released Thursday evening indicates the fire is 60 percent contained.
What started as a 25 hectare fire when firefighting teams arrived on-site Monday grew to over 3,100 hectares by Wednesday.
DNRR expressed concerns Thursday afternoon about the potential for the fire to spread due to dry conditions.
But just hours later, DNRR officials announced firefighting crews made up of two helicopters, one water bomber and 40 DNRR personnel were able to keep the fire from spreading past 3,100 hectares.
Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
As a result of the ongoing dry conditions the entire province is under burning restrictions.
Yarmouth, Shelburne and Queens counties currently have a full burn ban in place.
DNRR firefighters will continue efforts to extinguish the fire on Friday.
Water bomber dropping its load on part of a wildfire near South Horseshoe Lake, Yarmouth County, Photo: Communications Nova Scotia
Provincial officials say the forest fire in Yarmouth County tripled in size and is burning out of control.
A statement from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables says the fire grew from 1,000 to 3,100 hectares on Tuesday, spreading from South Horseshoe Lake west, in the direction of Rushy Lake.
Distance between South Horseshoe Lake and Rushy Lake. Photo Google Maps
Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton says, “Conditions are still adverse, so the fire may continue to spread. However, at this time, we do not see it reaching communities and the province’s response is being managed by highly trained professionals and fire crew members who are ready to respond at a moment’s notice to keep us safe in case of emergency.”
Since Monday, the contingent fighting the wildfire has grown to include 40 provincial fire crew members, two helicopters and a water bomber sent from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Officials says Tuesday’s wind and low humidity are driving the spread of the fire.
Air quality alerts have been issued for Yarmouth and residents are asked to keep windows closed.
Conditions continue to stay very dry across the province, and a burn ban remains in place for Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
DNRR will provide regular updates on the Yarmouth forest fire on their Twitter feed today.
Yarmouth forest fire seen from DNRR helicopter. Photo Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
A water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador has joined Nova Scotia’s ground and air crews to fight an out-of-control wildfire near Horseshoe Lake, Yarmouth County.
Ground crews pulled back as the CL-415 bomber dropped water until dark Tuesday night.
The fire has grown quickly with Department of Natural Resources and Renewables estimates increasing from 50 hectares Tuesday morning to over 1,000 hectares that night.
The water bomber joins two helicopters and 12 provincial fire crew members from Shelburne and Yarmouth counties who have been fighting the wildfire since Monday.
DNRR officials say winds and low humidity are factors in the spread of the fire.
Yarmouth area residents are encouraged to keep their windows closed as smoke from the growing fire has prompted air quality alerts.
Conditions are very dry across the province, and a burn ban is in place for Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.
Nova Scotians should check burn restrictions online or call the toll-free phone line at 1-855-564-2876 (BURN) before starting a fire.
DNRR will be providing regular updates on the Yarmouth forest fire on their Twitter feed.
