Campfires are back in the plans for several northern Manitoba parks and camping areas, with some restrictions due to fire danger.
Fire restrictions have eased for several northern provincial parks, including Bakers Narrows, Clearwater Lake, Grass River, Neso Lake, Paint Lake, Rocky Lake, Twin Lakes and Wekusko Falls. At these parks, campfires will now be allowed between the hours of 8 p.m.-8 a.m., but can only be held in approved fire pits. Gas appliances are allowed to be used at these parks – including propane barbecues and stoves – but burning charcoal briquettes is still prohibited.
The restrictions were put in place earlier this month after prolonged hot weather helped spark hundreds of forest fires across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Some trails are closed in provincial parks due to possible wildfire risk – namely the Liz Lake and Redmans Field trails at Paint Lake and the Kwasitchewan Falls trail at Pisew Falls. All other trails at northern provincial parks remain open. Backcountry travel is restricted in all provincial parks and backcountry camping is currently not permitted.
Level two fire and travel restrictions are now in effect for areas 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 in Manitoba - Flin Flon, Pukatawagan, Sherridon and Snow Lake are covered by area 13, while area 12 covers Cranberry Portage, Clearwater Lake, Wanless and most of Grass River Provincial Park.
A municipal fire ban is also in place for Flin Flon as of July 16, disallowing all open fires, fireworks or burning of garbage, yard waste, brush or any other blazes.
Under those restrictions, wayside parks will stay open and boat landing and launching will be limited to developed shore areas.
Fireworks are prohibited in all provincial parks, with existing authorization cancelled during the fire ban. No other authorization will be issued under current fire restrictions.
Saskatchewan lifted its provincial fire ban July 19 after a weekend of cooler weather, cloud cover and scattered rain, but municipal fire bans are still in place for Creighton and Denare Beach.
