Check the burn map, use common sense

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources’ burn map has been in place for a few years now, and while many may check it at 2 p.m. every day to see if they are permitted to burn brush, light a camp fire or set off fireworks, some may not know of or care about its existence.

Fort McMurray should have changed all that. Nova Scotia is mostly forest, dotted with towns and villages and the odd swath of farmland such as on the floor of the Annapolis Valley. Burn some brush on a hot, dry day and you may doom your neighbour’s house to destruction - or your own.

It’s all about common sense. If it’s been hot with no rain for more than a few days, even the smallest spark from a chainsaw, a cigarette thrown out a car window or a trash fire in a backyard could set entire communities on fire.

The burn map should be a ‘favouwrite’ on everybody’s web browser – just like the Weather Channel, Environment Canada and other sites that everyone goes to with their morning coffee to check out the weather, humidex and UV levels.

The wildfire risk season runs from March 15 to Oct. 15 in Nova Scotia. The burn map indicates by county what the risk is and if you can burn and when. If the map for Annapolis County or Kings County is red, you can’t burn anything at any time.

The DNR site contains the burning restrictions map at http://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/burnsafe/

But DNR also has a detailed forecast map with information taken from numerous points across the province. This gives a detailed picture of what’s happening and describes conditions from low to extreme.

http://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/ wildfire/fwi/Fire-Weather-Forecast.asp

Because the weather varies drastically across Nova Scotia, the burn map can have different colours all over the map, so to speak.

Every volunteer firefighter, DNR firefighter and first responders of all types dread the wildfire season. It’s a dangerous time for them and the time spent fighting fires is time spent away from their families and, for many, from paying jobs.

And, remember, that municipalities can also have bylaws about open fires that supersede provincial regulations and may pertain to those portable backyard fire pits as well. If the DNR map says it’s fine, you still need to see what your local regulations say.

Think twice before you burn that brush.

Think twice before you light that campfire in the woods. Think twice before setting off fireworks at the cabin or even in your back yard.

And check the burn map daily.