Public Service Announcement

Provincial Ban on Open Fires & Fire Works

Information for the Public

Release Date: May 21, 2020

The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay Volunteer Fire Department is reminding residents and of the Ban on Open Fires that was put into place by the Provincial Department of Fisheries and Land Resources on April 22, 2020. The minimum fine associated with the violation of the Province-Wide Fire Ban proclamation is $1,000.

Ban includes the following:

• Grass Burning
• Brush Burning
• Camp Fires and
• Personal Fire Works

“Historically, 80 percent of forest fires in the province are caused by people. The open fire ban has been declared with the goal of reducing the number of wildfires requiring action by Fisheries and Land Resources fire staff, local and volunteer fire departments, and other first responders during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This is consistent with actions being taken by other forest fire fighting agencies in Canada to lower the risks associated with COVID-19 exposure.” source: https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2020/flr/0422n02/

Residents of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay are reminded that there are Municipal Regulations in place for the use of back yard fire pits, and there are also new regulations and a potential permitting process being worked on.  To view the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay “Open Fires” Policy, click on the below link:

https://happyvalley-goosebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Open-Fires.pdf

The Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay appreciates the understanding and cooperation of residents on this matter.