UPDATE: Statement by Kathleen Hall, Chair Backlands Coalition on Aug 5:
“Today the Province of Nova Scotia announced a ban on travel and activities in the woods of Nova Scotia. This ban exists until October 15 or until conditions improve. It is important to note this ban applies to all land with no exceptions. In other words, all provincial, municipal and privately held lands. Federal lands have been added to this list. This is very unfortunate for all of us who spend a lot of time in nature but the high risk of fire is very real with the extreme weather we are currently experiencing.”
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ORIGINAL POST
“The Woods” includes even lightly wooded areas such as our open barrens.
Yesterday the province announced:
 The Province is restricting travel and activities in the woods because continued hot, dry conditions have greatly increased the risk of wildfires.
The restrictions, effective as of 4 p.m. today, August 5, include:
These and other measures are in place on provincial Crown and private land until October 15 or until conditions allow them to be lifted. The fine for violating the restrictions is $25,000. …Forestry, mining and any commercial activity on provincial Crown lands are also restricted. People who conduct this kind of activity can apply for a permit at their local Department of Natural Resources office. While the restrictions are in place, people can still access beaches and parks, but not the trail systems. Private landowners are free to use their own properties but cannot host others to use wooded areas of their properties. |
From MRWA Facebook page
The News Release doesn’t define “The Woods” but that evidently includes even lightly wooded areas such as our open barrens.
The McIntosh Run Watershed Association announced on their Facebook page that all of their trails are closed until further notice.
The Backlands are exceptionally fire-prone under “normal” conditions so we should be especially careful and watchful even on the adjacent lands where we still have access, e.g. in backyards of residences at the edges of the Backlands, and in areas around Purcell’s Cove and Herring Cove Roads.
A reminder of how the Backlands can burn: The “Spryfield Fire” of 2009. Source.
The ban brings back memories of such restrictions during Covid times. Perhaps now in retrospect and with much more scientific knowledge about Covid, we see those restrictions as excessive. But there can be little question about the extreme fire hazard in these days and in the Backlands in particular.
Surely it is a hard pill to swallow. But in Nova Scotia we can still walk around outside on a normal day without having to wear N-95 masks because of the smoke from the western fires – and we can still go the seaside to cool off.
And I am looking forward to the day when a walk in the Backlands takes place because of the rain, not in spite of it! – davidp
