SaltWire E-Edition

Burning ban in place in P.E.I.

P.E.I. sends firefighters to Nova Scotia, Alberta to battle wildfires

Outdoor burning permits will not be allowed in P.E.I. until further notice, the provincial government said in a news release on May 29.

Environment Minister Steven Myers said that it is based on wind and weather projections to minimize the risk of forest fires.

P.E.I.’S safe burning restrictions map is updated daily at 1:30 p.m., and anyone planning an outdoor burn must consult the map before burning to confirm if burning is allowed. Currently, weather conditions do not allow for burning.

“While we are working hard to mitigate the risk of forest fires after post-tropical storm Fiona, we need Islanders to do the same,’’ Myers said in the release.

Penalties have increased slightly for illegal burns, up to $50,000 in some cases.

Forest fires are an issue across Canada right now.

P.E.I. sent five forest firefighters to Nova Scotia on May 29 to help with wildfires. More than 6,270 hectares (more than 15,000 acres) of forest is burning in the Bluenose province.

Nova Scotia has deployed 40 Department of Natural Resources staff, more than 40 volunteer firefighters, two Department of Natural Resource helicopters and one water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador.

P.E.I. has also sent extra equipment that Nova Scotia has requested.

P.E.I. had already sent one forest firefighter to Alberta.

RISK IN P.E.I.

Immediately after Fiona, forestry officials began assessing and dealing with forest fire risk on the Island.

Those officials assessed all public lands and are at work cleaning up downed trees, dealing with higher risk areas first.

Fire breaks are being created at any high-risk infrastructure like homes, using principles of the national fire smart program. The province has also offered a salvage incentive to private woodlot owners to help offset the costs associated with dealing with Fiona-downed wood, with 1,000 hectares enrolled so far.

The provincial government announced a new $550,000 forest fire prevention fund in its latest operating budget, which will provide more forest fire training to more people to build wildland firefighting capacity. Funds will also go to purchasing and distributing firefighting equipment to targeted volunteer fire departments and other locations across P.E.I. to increase response capabilities. Further investments will also be made in drone technology to allow forest fire operations to be effective and efficient.

“We reached out to local fire brigades to offer them additional training and we have increased our own capacity in this area as we work on training staff across government to respond to forest fires,” added Myers. “For years, we’ve been sending P.E.I. staff to learn by fighting fires in other provinces, and we’re confident this has given us the training and experience we need to deal with a fire in P.E.I. We will continue to expand these training opportunities.”

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2023-05-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281530820401707

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