Check Before You Burn Now Online

NATURAL RESOURCES: Check Before You Burn Now Online

The Department of Natural Resources is alerting all Nova Scotians that wildfires can happen in March, so people must heed the reminder Check Before You Burn.

Wildfire risk season is now underway until October 15 and burning restrictions apply. People should check the BurnSafe website at novascotia.ca/BurnSafe for counties where burning domestic brush or campfires is permitted or restricted.

"It may still feel wintery but it doesn’t take long for woods to dry up, increasing the risk of wildfires,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Natural Resources. “By following the burning restrictions, people can burn safely and help reduce wildfires.”

Between March and April during the last five years, firefighters fought a total of 441 wildfires in Nova Scotia.

The BurnSafe map is updated daily at 2 p.m. to show if burning of domestic brush and campfires is permitted that day.

The map shows daily restrictions for each county. Most important, no burning is permitted anywhere from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on any day. If a county is shown in green, burning is permitted from 2 p.m. through 8 a.m. If a county is shown in yellow, burning is permitted between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. If a county is shown in red, burning is not allowed.

People should also check municipal bylaws as their rules may vary.

The burning restriction information on the BurnSafe map is also available, in a recorded message, by calling toll-free, 1-855-564-2876 (B-U-R-N).

The map applies only to the burning of campfires and domestic brush, which is brush on properties of homeowners, woodlot owners, farmers and other non-industrial lands. Industrial brush burning still requires a paper permit from the Department of Natural Resources.