The Department of Natural Resources is keeping some seasonal wildfire fighters and burning restrictions in place longer than usual as the risk of wildfires remains high in parts of Nova Scotia.

Burning restrictions across the province are posted daily at 2 p.m. at www.novascotia.ca/burnsafe . No burning of campfires or brush is permitted any day between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. during wildfire risk season. The season typically runs from March 15 to Oct. 15, but this year it will end on Oct. 22. Seasonal fire crews in the western and central regions of the province will stay on until Oct. 22.

“Maintaining these resources and restrictions until Oct. 22 is necessary to ensure the safety of our forests, our communities, and our people,” said Lloyd Hines, Minister of Natural Resources. “Conditions are still too dry to let our guard down and we urge everyone to follow the burning restrictions posted online.”

Nova Scotians in need of potable water and showers will have access to designated provincial parks in the central and western regions of the province after the camping season ends. The department will keep those parks open up to and including Oct. 27 for water access only. Most provincial parks traditionally close after Thanksgiving.

The following provincial parks are available for public use (showers and potable water access) from Sundays to Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., free of charge:
–Dollar Lake Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
–Graves Island Provincial Park, Lunenburg Co.
–Laurie Provincial Park, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Halifax Regional Municipality
–Porter’s Lake Provincial Park, Halifax Regional Municipality
–Rissers Beach Provincial Park, Lunenburg Co.
–The Islands Provincial Park, Shelburne Co.
–Thomas Raddall Provincial Park, Queens Co.

For more information on how government is helping residents affected by the water shortage in southwestern Nova Scotia, visit novascotia.ca/watershortage/ .

Source: Release