Kings County, NS – The Wildfire season in Nova Scotia runs from March 15th through to October 15th.

Warm, dry weather in the spring increases the risk of wildfires. That is why Nova Scotians should put safety first and check Burn Restrictions before starting a fire. Prevention by following the daily burn restrictions is vital. The burn restrictions are set for public safety and indicative of the peak/driest conditions.
Burn restrictions come into effect Monday, March 15. The Nova Scotia BurnSafe map (www.novascotia.ca/burnsafe) will be updated each day at 2 p.m. to show if burning is permitted that day:
• if a county is shown in green, burning is permitted after 2 p.m.
• if it is shown in yellow, burning is permitted after 7 p.m.
• if it is shown in red, burning is not permitted that day
• the map will appear grey each day between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to indicate burning is not permitted

Industrial Burning Permits are still required if you are land clearing, burning blueberry fields over 2 hectares in size and are burning piles larger than 2m by 3 m and more than one at a time. To obtain an Industrial Burning Permit, please call the Kentville Office at 902-679-6097. Industrial Burning Permits will require a site visit from NS Department of Lands & Forestry Staff.

The frequency of fires changes throughout the fire season (April to October). May and August traditionally have been the busiest months for wildfires. May is when what we call “spring dip” occurs and the trees energy is put into the new spring foliage making timber drier. Correct moisture content is low and is usually before green-up or just at green-up mid-May to first week of June.

Prevention is the best way to reduce the occurrences of forest fires. We all have a role to play in preventing Wildfires. Homes and businesses, particularly those near wooded areas, should take steps now, to prepare for the season and to prevent loss or damage. If you see a wildfire, please report it by calling 9-1-1. If you observe an illegal fire (not a wildfire), then please call the Department of Lands and Forestry at 1-800-565-2224.

For more information on Wildfire prevention, visit the Department of Lands and Forestry Wildfire website or follow Kings REMO on Twitter (@REMO_KingsCty) or Facebook (REMO_KingsCounty).