NOVA SCOTIA: The provincial government has permanently set the fine for violating wildfire burn restrictions at $25,000, a move aimed at reinforcing the seriousness of fire safety during wildfire season.
The fine, which had been introduced as a temporary measure following destructive wildfires in 2023, is now part of the province’s official regulations as of May 2.
“Nova Scotians saw the devastation of wildfires first-hand in 2023. We imposed the $25,000 fine through temporary means to show we mean business, and it’s working – we had the quietest wildfire season on record last year,” Minister of Natural Resources Tory Rushton said. “Now we’ve made that fine permanent in the regulations to keep signalling how serious we are. Wildfire prevention is everyone’s responsibility, and I ask all Nova Scotians to be safe and take care of each other by following the rules.”
The fine applies during the province’s annual wildfire season, which runs from March 15 to October 15. Burning is strictly prohibited between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day, as those hours are considered the highest risk period for fires to start and spread.
The Department of Natural Resources provides daily updates through the BurnSafe map at novascotia.ca/burnsafe, which indicates when and where burning is permitted. The map is updated every day at 2 p.m. with the following colour codes: Red: No burning permitted; Yellow: Burning allowed after 7 p.m.; and Green: Burning allowed after 2 p.m.
Residents can also confirm burn restrictions by calling the toll-free BurnSafe line at 1-855-564-2876 (BURN). Municipal bylaws may also impose stricter rules than the province, and in such cases, local rules take precedence.
The government reports that the total cost of a fine, including a victim surcharge and court fees, now comes to $28,872.50 – a significant increase from the previous fines, which ranged from $180 to $237.50.
Industrial and agricultural burning, including brush piles and land clearing, continues to require a special permit from the Department of Natural Resources.
Officials hope the tougher penalties will continue to discourage risky behaviour and protect people, property, and the environment from the dangers of wildfires.