Due to an unprecedented wildfire season in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province-wide restriction has been implemented on all off-road vehicles on forested land. This measure is necessary to help protect our communities and maintain public safety.

The temporary restriction on off-road vehicles will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Sunday, August 17, 2025, when it will be reviewed based on the forecasted wildfire index and fire behaviours.

For those who need to use an off-road vehicle to exit a restricted forested area, a one-time exemption to leave the area will be in place. This exemption ends at 11:59 p.m., Friday, August 15, 2025.

This restriction applies throughout the entire province in areas where the Fire Weather Index is classified as either high, very high, or extreme.

The Fire Hazard Map can be found here. Please note, by selecting ‘hide fire bans’ on the top right hand corner of the map, the black fire ban information can be turned off to display the Fire Weather Index of each region. This map is updated daily at 2:00 p.m. NDT.

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture will also post the map daily to our social media pages after it is updated for easy access: Facebook and X.

An off-road vehicle is defined as a wheeled or tracked motorized vehicle, designed or adapted for cross-country travel on land, water, ice, snow, marsh, swamp land or other natural terrain, and includes:

• an all-terrain vehicle, including a side-by-side.
• a mini-bike, dirt-bike and trail-bike.
• a miniature vehicle, such as a dune or sport buggy.
• an off-road maintenance machine.
• an amphibious vehicle.
• a motorized snow vehicle.

Under section 93(1) of the Forestry Act, the minister may by order declare an area of forest land to be a restricted travel area for the period set out in the order for the purpose of reducing the probability of a wildfire during periods of high fire hazard.

The Forestry Act defines forested land as land with trees or shrubs, and also includes dry marsh, bogland and land commonly known as “barrens.”

For the most up to date information, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/alerts and follow the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Facebook and on X.

The latest information on the location, status, and size of active wildfires can be viewed online at the NL Active Wildfire Dashboard.

-30-