The province is implementing additional fire and travel restrictions and an immediate ban on campfires.

This was announced by a fire bulletin released shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday. Manitoba Conservation and Climate cites the high to extreme risk of fire as the reason for the additional measures.

The bulletin points out that drought conditions across much of southern Manitoba can allow wildfires to spread out of control quickly and challenge the ability of emergency crews to fight multiple fires at the same time.

Level 2 Fire and Travel Restrictions are now in place for the area by PR 302 at the U.S. border north to PTH 12 and along the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg to Poplar River and all the way east to the Ontario border.

Manitobans can refer to the Province’s Fire and Travel Restrictions map at www.gov.mb.ca/sd/fire/Restrictions/index.html to confirm area restrictions before heading outdoors.

Level 2 travel restrictions include the following:

  • motorized backcountry travel, including ATVs and other off-road vehicles, is prohibited unless under the authority of a travel permit;
  • camping is restricted to developed campgrounds;
  • campfires are prohibited;
  • wayside parks remain open;
  • landing and launching is restricted to developed shorelines only; and
  • industry and outfitters should contact local Conservation and Climate offices for more information.

In addition, effective immediately in all provincial parks south of the 53rd parallel, all backcountry trails and water routes are closed to public access until further notice including hiking, equestrian, mountain biking and motorized vehicles. Limited trails within developed front-country campgrounds and townsites remain open for pedestrian access.

The Toniata seasonal campground in the Whiteshell Provincial Park, along with the Equestrian and Canoe Landing campgrounds in Spruce Woods Provincial Park is also closed.

See www.manitobaparks.com for a full list of trail closures.

The province has also cancelled and restricted issuing provincial burning permits in various areas. Many municipalities have already proactively implemented burning restrictions this spring, so Manitobans are advised to also check with local municipal offices for more information or view the interactive Current Municipal Burning Restrictions map at www.manitoba.ca/wildfire/burn_conditions.html.

Manitoba will not issue any provincial burning permits within or areas bordering any municipality where the burning restrictions are already in place.

For further information on Manitoba Wildfire Service, situation updates, restrictions, and other important wildfire links go to www.gov.mb.ca/wildfire/ or follow the Twitter account at https://twitter.com/mbgovnews.

To report a wildfire, call 911 or the T.I.P. line (toll-free) at 1-800-782-0076.

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Written by Kris Ontong