Province cancels burn permits, bans back-country travel in wildfire-threatened areas

The Manitoba government has delivered a strong message to the public to be extremely cautious because every one of the 62 wildfires this season has been caused by human activity.

The huge potential for fire due to dry conditions has promoted restrictions and officials said Thursday more bans are to take effect in high-risk areas.

All provincial burn permits in the eastern and Interlake regions have been cancelled and a complete ban of motorized back-country travel in affected areas will go into effect Friday.

The area is the current hot spot due to the low amount of snowfall this year and because it has large swaths of grassland, said Glenn Miller, acting director of the Manitoba Wildfire Service.

High temperatures and strong winds have worsened the risk across the province, Miller told reporters, after a news conference was moved indoors due to gusting wind Thursday afternoon.

The next few days will be a “battle” for firefighters, Miller said.

“People have to be respectful of fire and respectful of the wind… wind is a key part of the greatest spread for fire, and it’s a great concern for us,” he said. “Today is not a good day.”

On Thursday, 13 wildfires were burning across the province.

Motorized back-country travel, including ATVs and off-road vehicles, will be banned at all times in restricted areas as of Friday.

Provincial parks affected by the ban include Whiteshell, Spruce Woods, Beaudry, St. Ambroise Beach, Stephenfield, Birds Hill, Lake St. Andrews and Lake St. George. The map of restricted areas can be found on the provincial government website.

In addition, there is also a ban on any fires from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. in those areas. Outside of that time, campfires can be started only in a fire pit. Disobeying the ban could result in a fine of as much as $100,000.

Conservation officers have laid charges and issued written warnings related to this season’s wildfires, but a provincial spokesman said no data was available for release.

“Fines and penalties can be significant… but the province is counting on the public to do the right thing, follow fire bans and use appropriate caution,” the unnamed spokesman said in an email.

The Interlake Reserves Tribal Council said Wednesday that while fires in Kinonjeoshtegon, Peguis and Pinaymootang had been declared under control, Lake Manitoba First Nation would be included in their declaration of a state of emergency in response to the fire threat.

The Manitoba First Nations Police Service called on the public to check if their municipality is under a fire restriction and asked that anyone with information on someone who may have committed an offence alert their local police branch.

“The failure to follow these bans can result in catastrophic damage to homes and pose serious threats to the lives of community members,” a news release from the police service said.

Burn permits will not be issued for areas that border communities where restrictions are in place.

Up-to-date information on wildfires, restrictions and other information can be found online or on X (formerly Twitter).

To report a wildfire, the public can call 911 or 1-800-782-0076.

Closer to Winnipeg, crews spent hours battling a grass fire in an industrial area near FortWhyte Alive on Wednesday.

Firefighters were sent to the 200 block of Commerce Drive at 4:12 p.m. and declared the fire under control by 7:52 p.m.

An open-air fire ban for Winnipeg remains in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca