N.S. bans hiking and use of vehicles in woods as dry conditions raise wildfire fears

The Nova Scotia government has announced it's banning hiking, camping, fishing and use of vehicles such as ATVs in the woods as of 4 p.m. Tuesday due to an elevated wildfire risk.

Camping in campgrounds is still permitted, but trail systems through woods are off-limits under the new rules.

The rules are in place for provincial Crown land until Oct. 15 or until weather conditions allow them to be lifted. 

The fine for violating the ban is $25,000.

The public can still access beaches and parks, except for trail systems. 

As hot and dry conditions in the province persist, Premier Tim Houston said at a news conference Tuesday that these proactive measures are a "small price to pay" to avoid devastation like the province saw in 2023, when wildfires destroyed more than 200 homes.

"I'm losing sleep about what's happening," Houston said, pointing to the more than 700 active wildfires burning across Canada and stretched firefighting resources.

He said the government has received briefings indicating there is no significant rainfall forecasted for the near term.

Landowners are being encouraged to voluntarily follow the same restrictions on their private land to minimize the risk of wildfires. While landowners will not face a fine for activities such as hiking in their own woods, any guest of theirs who is found violating the ban could be fined.

Parks Canada also announced several closures effective as of 12 p.m. on Aug. 6:

• All trails in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
• Backcountry camping at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
• All trails at Kejimkujik National Park Seaside
• York Redoubt National Historic Site
• Fort McNab National Historic Site
• Melanson Settlement National Historic Site

However, front-country camping, beaches and day-use areas (including Jakes Landing equipment rentals) at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site will remain open. A full fire ban is also in place at the national park.

National historic sites including Halifax Citadel, Georges Island, Fort Anne, Port-Royal, Grand-Pré, Fort Edward, Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence will remain open.

The Halifax municipality has put restrictions on its park spaces. In a news release Tuesday, the city said it was closing parks that are completely wooded. It said non-woods areas like green spaces, playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds will remain open for use.

In parks that have both woods and non-woods areas, the woods are closed and the non-wooded areas remain open.

City crews are in the process of putting up signs at impacted spaces, though this could take several days.

"Regardless of the presence of signage, residents are required to adhere to these restrictions," the municipality said in the release.

Forestry, mining impacted

The new provincial rules extend to the forestry and mining sectors, where companies will have to get permits and largely work at night in order to minimize the risk.

"This situation sucks," Houston acknowledged.

But, he said, "we must do everything possible to protect each other."

In an interview with CBC's Mainstreet on Tuesday, the manager of forest protection for Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources said it's important for people to be sensible and follow restrictions.

"If they're unsure whether the activity they'd like to do is permitted or not — again we're working on providing as much clarity as we can and we'll continue that in the next coming days — but if they're unsure, best practice is to not do it," Scott Tingley said.

Tingley said now is the time to exercise caution.

"We just need to get through this stretch together and not have any fires."

The executive director of the All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Nova Scotia said so far, feedback from members has primarily been in favour of being safe.

Barry Barnet said ATV events planned for the next month can be rescheduled.

"They're rallies and jamborees, that kind of stuff," he said. "They're all things that can occur later in the year."

Last week, a ban on open fires was also put in place across the province. It will be in effect until Oct. 15 or when conditions improve.

At the news conference, Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton said there have been about 100 small wildfires in Nova Scotia so far this season that were extinguished quickly.

"But that could change in a heartbeat," Rushton said.