The outdoor fire ban prohibiting setting of fires on forest land or within 300 metres of forest land has been lifted for the Island of Newfoundland but remains in effect for Labrador until further notice. The ban is authorized under the authority of section 99 of the Forestry Act.
The setting of fires on forest land or within 300 metres of forest land is prohibited in all areas of Labrador.
In areas that are not on forest land or within 300 metres of forest land, fires are only permitted if set in a wood burning unit that:
- is made entirely of non-combustible materials
- completely contains the fire
- is screened to prevent the escape of sparks or other burning materials
- rests on legs or supports and placed on mineral soil or non-combustible material having a surface area of not less than 1.5 square metres
- is located not less than 3.5 metres from the nearest woods, brush or other flammable materials.
The fire ban does not apply to a fire set using a gas, kerosene, alcohol, propane or charcoal burning unit, provided it is not used within 3.5 metres of any woods, brush or other flammable material.
All coals from a charcoal-burning unit must be totally extinguished before being discarded and must not be discarded in any manner that may start a fire.
Significant firefighting resources have recently been dedicated to wildfire suppression impacting Labrador West. The outdoor fire ban in Labrador will continue to help reduce the wildfire risk in Labrador and support the efforts of wildfire suppression teams actioning active fires.
On the Island of Newfoundland, a Permit to Burn is required to burn brush and other materials during Forest Fire Season. Permits are available by contacting a local Forestry and Wildlife District Office.
Residents are urged to do everything they can to prevent forest fires. Off-road vehicle operators should use a proper screening or baffling device to prevent sparks from escaping and carry a fire extinguisher with a minimum of 225 grams of ABC-class dry chemical when travelling in grassy or wooded areas.
Anyone planning a fire should check Public Reminders for Forest Season and current Fire Hazard Ratings for their area for information.
When the Fire Hazard rating is HIGH, VERY HIGH, or EXTREME for a region, all Permits to Burn for that region are suspended. When the rating is VERY HIGH, or EXTREME for a region, open or outdoor fires are NOT PERMITTED.
The latest information on the location, status, and size of active wildfires is available from the NL Active Wildfire Dashboard.
To report a wildfire, call: 1-866-709-FIRE (3473).
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