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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Fire ban extends to Birds Hill

Campfires, travel prohibited in some areas

By: Meghan Potkins

Posted: 08/9/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Signs at Birds Hill Provincial Park warn visitors the backcountry trails are closed due to the extreme fire hazard caused by tinder-dry conditions.

Outdoor enthusiasts will have to wait a little longer to enjoy some of Manitoba's most popular park areas thanks to tinder-dry conditions caused by record high temperatures in recent weeks.

Whiteshell Provincial Park and Birds Hill Provincial Park are among the popular recreational areas where normal summer activities will be severely restricted until there's a substantial amount of rain, provincial officials said Monday.

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Officials estimate a soaking of at least 25 millimetres of rain will be necessary to alleviate the dry conditions.

The province has banned all open fires in eastern Manitoba and all backcountry travel until further notice. At Birds Hill, most of the hiking and biking trails are closed.

The ban was imposed Friday after a too-brief rainfall Thursday proved to be inadequate to relieve the tinder-dry conditions.

"This is the worst I've ever seen it," said Birds Hill Park Ranch owner Ivor Asham.

Asham said he has suffered a drop-off in his horseback-riding business because of the fire ban.

"People aren't coming anymore because they can't have campfires," said Asham, who has operated his ranch in the Birds Hill area for 19 years. "(They're not) able to do the traditional campfire at night or cooking in the morning."

Conservation officers have been active in their patrol of parks areas, warning hikers to stay away from backcountry and reminding campers open fires are prohibited.

But even with the stepped-up presence, some people didn't get the message.

Eight people were charged over the weekend by conservation officers for violating travel restrictions and one person was charged for having a campfire in the Whiteshell.

Each has incurred a $475 fine for breaching the restrictions.

"We're trying to reduce the risk of human-caused fires," said Gary Friesen, manager of Manitoba Conservation's fire program. "It's so dry out in those areas, and there is so much dry grass that it wouldn't take too much to start a fire."

Still, the bans and restrictions can seem a cruel punishment to Manitobans who haven't seen limits like these imposed since 2006, foiling plans to get out and enjoy the fine weather.

"Hikers may be disappointed that the trails in Birds Hill park have closed, but we think that most people will understand the need to protect the park," said Manitoba provincial trails consultant Howard Skrypnyk.

"This short inconvenience is a much better option than risking a fire that could take out the trails for years to come."

meghan.potkins@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 9, 2011 A3

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