Hot, dry weather in Atlantic Canada prompts fire bans and increased penalties for violators
Drought conditions have beset Atlantic Canada with wildfires raging in some locales, with no relief in coming days, according to Environment Canada . The conditions are increasing the wildfire risk.
Three significant wildfires are already raging in Newfoundland and Labrador where fines for violators of the province-wide fire ban were increased Friday afternoon f rom $50,000 to $150,000, as well as up to a year in prison. (A first offence previously meant a $75 fine. Now it’s $50,000 for a first offence and payment defaulters risk imprisonment of six months.)
“It’s very clear that these penalties for violating the regulations needed to be higher, and everyone needs to take this seriously,” Premier John Hogan told CBC News. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Coast Guard are being deployed to help fight the fires.
New Brunswick also has a burn ban in place, while dry conditions have prompted the provincial government to restrict forestry industry activity until at least August 12 .
Prince Edward Island is the latest province to impose a burn restrictions . Fires for warmth or cooking are permitted by burn permits have been revoked for the immediate future. Parks Canada has fines up to $25,000 for breaching burn bans in national parks on Prince Edward Island. The parks are popular among beachgoers at Cavendish and Stanhope. Campfires are only permitted in designated fire pits or boxes provided by Parks Canada. Otherwise, fires are not allowed, including on beaches or rocky surfaces.
The fire chief in North Sydney , on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, has expressed disbelief over violators who claim they didn’t know about that province’s outright ban , amid the dry forest conditions. Meanwhile, he says, the ban won’t “last forever” and asks for understanding.
The penalty for violators of a Nova Scotia burn ban was increased to $25,000 back in 2023, when two huge fires devastated parts of the province, destroying over 300 homes and 60 other structures.
How has Nova Scotia prohibited activity in the province’s forests?
Nova Scotia has taken the most stringent measures of any of the Atlantic Provinces in clamping down on personal and commercial activity in Nova Scotia’s forests . Hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods is not permitted. Trail systems through woods are off limits and camping is allowed only in campgrounds.
People involved in commercial activity such as forestry and mining must apply for a permit at their local Department of Natural Resources office.
The prohibitions could last into the fall, as the province says March 15 to October 15 is when the risk is heightened.
While the restrictions are in place, people are permitted access to beaches and parks, but not the trail systems. And landowners can use their own properties but they cannot host others to use wooded areas of their properties. The province has had to respond to some confusion about the measures.
Travel, Activities in Woods Restricted to Prevent Wildfires https://t.co/d7WQlKknWQ pic.twitter.com/HV0EYLkzVa
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) August 5, 2025
Has there been pushback against the province?
There has been criticism from some quarters that the ban on activity in Nova Scotia’s forests is disproportionate to the wildfire risk. One source is the Canadian Constitution Foundation , which has sent a letter to the Premier Tim Houston.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has also suggested the new regulations are broader than necessary .
Nature lovers should be FREE to responsibly enjoy our forests. Nova Scotia must END the unreasonable, provincewide ban on entering the woods and replace it with targeted measures that RESPECT our constitutional rights.
— Christine Van Geyn (@cvangeyn) August 7, 2025
Sign our petition here: https://t.co/rEpWYdjLUP
Have violators been penalized?
Nova Scotia has issued 10 tickets this year to people allegedly violating burn restrictions. Nova Scotia RCMP said its officers issued three tickets in May, June and July.
Last year, 16 tickets were handed out by Natural Resources and RCMP.
N.S. is also asking residents to report wildfires or violations of the fire restrictions by calling a government number.
Have there been previous bans?
This is not the first time travel and activity in the woods have been banned. They were also banned in 2023, 2016 and 2001.
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