Nova Scotia has issued more than $288K in burn-ban fines in 2025

Agencies in Nova Scotia have issued 10 tickets worth more than $25,000 each to people allegedly violating burn restrictions so far this year amid dry conditions that have increased the risk of wildfires throughout the province.

Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton said Tuesday that seven summary offence tickets have been issued by conservation officers under the Forests Act since the fine was permanently increased in May.

Nova Scotia RCMP said its officers issued three tickets under the act in May, June and July.

A victim surcharge and HST also apply to the fine, bringing the total to $28,872.50. That amounts to more than $288,000 in fines and fees being issued so far this year.

The fine previously applied to violating daily burn restrictions, but now also applies to violations of new rules announced on Tuesday, which include a ban on hiking, camping, fishing and use of vehicles such as ATVs in the woods.

Scott Tingley, the manager of forest protection for the Natural Resources Department, said the dry conditions, with no rain in the forecast for at least 10 days, mean everyone needs to do their part to prevent wildfires.

"You get to a point in the conditions where it wouldn't matter how much equipment you had on the shelf or personnel or aircraft, they can't stop those fires in the worst conditions," Tingley told CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia on Wednesday.

"And that's where we're headed right now."

Travel and activity in the woods were also banned in May 2023 while the province battled two major wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes. The restrictions were initially put in place for about four weeks or until conditions allowed them to be lifted. The restrictions were lifted after about a week.

Bans were also implemented in 2016 and 2001 due to fires and dry conditions.

Agencies that enforce the Forests Act have the ability to issue the fine, including Natural Resources, police departments and RCMP. 

Last year, 16 tickets were handed out by Natural Resources and RCMP, totalling more than $460,000 in fines and fees.

Rushton said there have been about 100 small wildfires in Nova Scotia so far this season that were extinguished quickly.