Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - Blog on a Log

Backcountry Travel and Fires Restricted in Eastern Manitoba

Manitobans may be enjoying the early summer, but their choices just got a lot more limited since Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship announced backcountry travel restrictions and fire bans in eastern Manitoba yesterday.

Unseasonably warm and dry temperatures have lead to high-risk fire conditions in the eastern areas of the province.  Backcountry travel is now allowed by permit only.  All existing burning permits have been canceled, and no new permits will be issued.  Campfires are allowed between 8 pm and 8 am in approved fire pits only.

The ban affects areas in eastern Manitoba including

"...the areas from the Manitoba-U.S. border in the south to the Bloodvein/Gammon River including Bissett and Hollow Water in the north, and east of La Broquerie, Richer and the Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation, and along the eastern edge of Lake Winnipeg to the Ontario boundary. This includes Whiteshell, Nopiming, Moose Lake, Wanipigow, Wallace Lake, Manigotagan River and south Atikaki provincial parks and the Northwest Angle and Sandilands provincial forests."

and is in effect until further notice.  For more information, consult the Parks news release.

At a glance:

• Backcountry travel is now restricted to permit-holders only in most of eastern Manitoba
• Campfires are allowed only between 8pm and 8am in approved firepits
• The restricted area encompasses the eastern edge of Manitoba from the US border in the south to the Bloodvein river in the north.
• Effected areas include the Whiteshell, Nopiming, Moose Lake Wanipigow, Wallace Lake, Manigotagan River and south Atikaki provincial parks and the Northwest Angle and Sandilands provincial forests.