‘People are not listening’: Dozens of illegal fires reported in Cape Breton amid burn ban

Despite the threat of fines, Nova Scotia crews are stilling chasing illegal burns in the province.

The chief of the North Sydney Volunteer Fire Department was in disbelief after his department responded to a call on Wednesday in a rural area just outside of town.

“We made our way there, and indeed there was a deliberate fire set in the woods,” said Chief Lloyd MacIntosh. “A person was burning some grass and some brush and debris and things.”

MacIntosh said the flames were extinguished and police were notified.

While it isn’t known if the person who set the fire might face any further consequences, MacIntosh said, in general, he is surprised at the number of people not following Nova Scotia’s burn ban amid tinder-dry forest conditions and the risk of wildfires.

“The province has made it clear,” MacIntosh said. “It’s been on every Facebook page and post. It’s been on the radio and TV. I don’t understand why people are still burning.”

Fire crews for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) have been dealing with a similar problem.

“In the last two weeks, we have responded to about 50 illegal backyard fires,” said Jenna MacQueen of CBRM Communications.

MacQueen said that CBRM fire crews have been stretched thin by responding to unnecessary calls.

On Thursday, the municipality announced the closure of all wooded trail systems within CBRM and echoed the Nova Scotia government’s threat of a $25,000 fine for violations.

“People know that there’s a burn ban in place, and people are not listening,” MacQueen said. “Really, it’s overburdening our system, and we need to make sure that fire are able to respond to calls that are actually needed and people are taking those resources away.”

Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection for Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources, said no new $25,000 fines have been issued since the province announced the ban on entering the woods on Tuesday, but seven fines have been issued for illegal burns since May.

“There could still be a number of situations that are still being investigated, but the formal fine number is still seven,” Tingley said.

Tingley added that his department has also been dealing with cases where people are either not following the rules or are unclear about them.

“Reports of smoke that we’re following up on, and staff have been responding to a couple of calls each day around the province - and they’re varying scenarios,” Tingley said. “So, there’s still some activity out there.”

Meanwhile, the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), a right-leaning group, announced on Thursday that it has sent a letter to Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton arguing that the hiking ban violates peoples’ freedoms.

In a news release, the CCF added it has started a petition calling on government to restore access to the woods.

Meanwhile, MacIntosh has a message for those who have been pushing back against the forest ban.

“This is not going to last forever,” he said. “It will be a month or two or three, at the most. Rain will fall, grass will grow, and things will be better but in the meantime, please be understanding.”

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