06/10/2026
NEW WILDFIRE RULES & TOUGHER PENALTIES NOW IN EFFECT
(June 10)
The Provincial Government has launched a new wildfire information website and introduced strengthened legislation aimed at reducing the risk of forest fires across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Some of the key changes include:
• Fireworks and sky lanterns are now prohibited when the Fire Weather Index is High, Very High, or Extreme.
• Deliberately starting a forest fire now carries penalties ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.
• A new offence for recklessly or negligently starting a forest fire carries penalties of $50,000 to $150,000.
• Minimum fines of $50,000 now apply for several high-risk activities, including burning without a permit, violating fire bans, leaving fires unattended, and using fireworks during high-risk conditions.
• ATVs and other motorized vehicles travelling on forest land must have proper spark arrestors and fire extinguishers.
The new Wildfire Prevention and Management website provides daily wildfire risk levels, active wildfire information, statistics, prevention tips, and details on the updated legislation.
With wildfire activity increasing in recent years, do you think these tougher penalties will help prevent human-caused fires?
