YARMOUTH, N.S. – Firefighters have been kept busy throughout the province as grassfire season gets underway.
In Yarmouth, for instance, firefighters have been called out to the scene of several grassfires that have gotten out of control. And they're not alone. Similar scenes have been playing themselves out throughout the province.
This week, however, Nova Scotians who burn will be responsible for checking conditions before lighting up.
Nova Scotians are reminded to 'Check Before You Burn' starting March 15, the official start of the wildfire risk season.
People should check the BurnSafe website at novascotia.ca/BurnSafe for counties and municipalities where domestic burning of brush and campfires are permitted or restricted. Burning restrictions apply until Oct. 15.
"While we've seen less snow than past years, we have had a wet and cold winter, making it hard to predict the season ahead," said Minister of Natural Resources Margaret Miller. "People should follow burning restrictions and help to reduce the risk of wildfires in our forests."
Between March and April during the last five years, firefighters fought 295 wildfires in Nova Scotia.
The BurnSafe map is updated daily at 2 p.m. to show if domestic burning of brush and campfires is permitted that day.
The map shows daily restrictions for counties and municipalities. Most importantly, no domestic burning is permitted anywhere from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on any day. If an area is shown in green, burning is permitted from 2 p.m. through 8 a.m. If it is shown in yellow, burning is permitted between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. If the area is red, burning is not allowed.
People should also check municipal bylaws as their rules may vary.
The burning restriction information on the BurnSafe map is also available, in a recorded message, by calling toll-free, 1-855-564-2876 (B-U-R-N).
The BurnSafe map applies only to domestic burning. Industrial burning still requires a paper permit from the Department of Natural Resources.
