{"id":9029,"date":"2025-08-05T13:16:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T16:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qccrfm.com\/news\/?p=9029"},"modified":"2025-08-05T17:21:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T20:21:43","slug":"nova-scotia-bans-people-from-woods-to-deal-with-wildfire-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qccrfm.com\/news\/2025\/08\/05\/nova-scotia-bans-people-from-woods-to-deal-with-wildfire-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Nova Scotia bans people from woods to deal with wildfire risk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Department of Natural Resources staff member Mark Shaw works to put out fires in the Upper Tantallon area on May 30, 2023. (Province of Nova Scotia \/ File)<\/p><\/div>\n

UPDATED TUES., AUG. 5 at 5:20 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With drought conditions affecting most of Nova Scotia, Premier Tim Houston announced Tuesday that the province is banning all activities in the woods and on trails, with few exceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re hearing from rural fire departments that are worried about low water levels in the ponds and lakes that they use and really about their overall ability to respond to emergencies,” Houston said at an early afternoon news conference.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As tinder-dry conditions continue to persist from one end of the province to the other, the risk of wildfires increases and the risk is very, very high right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Effective 4 p.m. today, we’re telling Nova Scotians stay out of the woods. We are restricting travel and activities that really aren’t necessary for most of us. Hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods are not permitted. Trail systems through woods are off limits. Camping is allowed but only in official campgrounds.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Houston said the fine for violating the new restrictions is the same as flouting the burn ban \u2014 $25,000. So far this year, seven people have been fined. Officials didn\u2019t disclose where those fines were levied.<\/span><\/p>\n

The province implemented a provincewide ban on open fires on July 30. Hot, dry conditions are expected to last in Nova Scotia for at least two weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know it\u2019s inconvenient and I know it\u2019s the height of summer vacation \u2026 but we have to stay out of the woods. It\u2019s a small price to pay right now to avoid the kind of devastation we saw from the wildfires in 2023. And nobody wants that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need all Nova scotians to help keep our firefighters safe along wih everyone else by following the measures we\u2019ve put in place. I\u2019m counting on you to do the right thing. Don\u2019t light a campfire, stay out of the woods and stay safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Commercial activities in the woods will also be restricted. Forestry, mining and any other work must be approved by a local Department of Natural Resources office.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beaches and parks are still open, but any fires are banned. <\/span>Private landowners may use their own properties but can\u2019t allow others to use their wooded areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fireworks are also part of the ban. In response to a reporter\u2019s question about whether the penalty for setting off fireworks during a burn ban should also be increased to $25,000, the premier said \u201cthat sounds like a good idea to me. (It) should be.\u201d It was unclear whether the fine would be increased.<\/span><\/p>\n

Houston said the move to restrict activities in the woods was made based on advice from Natural Resources officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minister Tory Rushton said Nova Scotia has already had about 100 wildfires so far this year. He said they were extinguished quickly, but the kind of blaze that officials have battled is different.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The fires we’re seeing right now are burning deeper into the root system and going deep underground and that kind of fire takes a long time to put out which is exhausting our resources,” Rushton said.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The aim is to limit unnecessary travel in the woods and activities.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Dave White, president of the Queens County ATV Association, told QCCR on Tuesday that he supports the province\u2019s decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that the premier and Minister Rushton are absolutely making the right call and relying on the right people to give them good information,\u201d White said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as I want everybody to have recreational opportunities, now is not the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

White said his group and others are meeting with provincial officials on Wednesday to find out what the new restrictions mean for major ongoing work on trail maintenance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose are commercial practices, but I suspect that those will be suspended until conditions improve. Obviously, our priority is to protect our woods and that leads to our community, and our friends, family and our firefighters. That\u2019s the No. 1 thing that we\u2019re looking at right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His group and the Queens Rails to Trails Association have posted on their Facebook pages that all trails are closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important that people follow this. The opportunity to use our trails will come again,\u201d White said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur standard line is we\u2019re not just building rails, we\u2019re also building community, and that means working together to keep everybody safe and happy and healthy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Parks Canada issued an advisory late Tuesday afternoon (read that here<\/a>) detailing these closures in Queens County:<\/p>\n