FIRE BULLETIN #18 – Lifting of some Restrictions

FIRE BULLETIN #18

The Manitoba Wildfire Service advises that thanks to recent rainfall in some areas of the province, there will be a gradual lifting of some fire and travel restrictions. However, some areas of the province still face high to extreme fire danger levels. These changes to fire

Outdoor Burning
All provincial burning permits remain cancelled provincewide and new permits will not be issued until conditions improve.

Area 4 remains at level 4 fire and travel restrictions, which essentially means the area is closed, and a full travel ban is in effect. Area 4 covers the large area north of the Wanipigow River, east of Lake Winnipeg to the Ontario border, including Atikaki Provincial Park, and north to Poplar River.

Level 4 Fire and Travel Restrictions: Imposed in Area 4
• No access permitted. Travel ban in effect.
• No access to cottages.
• Permanent residents must be ready to leave on an hour’s notice.
• Campfires are not permitted.

Whiteshell Provincial Park is in Area 2

Level 2 Fire and Travel Restrictions: Imposed in Areas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16
• Provincial burning permits are cancelled.
• Motorized backcountry travel, including ATVs and other off-road vehicles, is prohibited unless under the authority of a travel permit.
• Camping is restricted to developed campgrounds. 
• Campfires are permitted only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• Wayside parks remain open.
• Landing and launching is restricted to developed shorelines only.
• Industry and outfitters may be restricted in their operations and should contact their local Manitoba Conservation and Climate office for more information.

Level 1 Fire and Travel Restrictions: Remain for Area 15
• Provincial burning permits are cancelled.
• Campfires are permitted only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
• Motorized backcountry travel, including ATVs and other off-road vehicles, is prohibited from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise approved by a travel permit.

Additional Restrictions in Provincial Parks
• No campfires, and all trails closed in Grand Beach Provincial Park. The Canoe Landing Campground in Spruce Woods Provincial Park remains closed. In all other provincial parks, outside the restriction areas, campfires will be permitted between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. only.
• Additional trail closures include Mantario Trail and Kwasitchewan Trail. Restriction information for provincial parks is available at www.manitobaparks.com.

Fireworks and Sky Lanterns
• Prohibited in provincial parks at all times.
• A Provincial Fireworks Authorization is required to use fireworks or sky lanterns within fire and travel restriction areas. Any existing authorizations are cancelled and no authorizations will be issued under the current restrictions.

The Province’s Fire and Travel Restrictions map will be updated to reflect these updated restrictions.  Please confirm your area’s restrictions before heading outdoors.  www.gov.mb.ca/sd/fire/Restrictions/index.html.

Many municipalities have already proactively implemented burning restrictions. Check with local municipal offices for more information or view the interactive Current Municipal Burning Restrictions at www.manitoba.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html. The province does not issue burning permits within or areas bordering any municipality where municipal burning restrictions are already in place.

Wildfires across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwest Ontario will continue to bring smoke into all parts of the province until conditions improve. This will be dependent on wind direction. Air quality reports are available on the Government of Canada website at:
https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/mbaq-001_e.html.

For further information on Manitoba Wildfire Service, situation updates, restrictions and other important wildfire links go to www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/ or follow the Twitter account at https://twitter.com/mbgovnews.

To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.