08-05-2025
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Province cancels burn permits, bans back-country travel in wildfire-threatened areas
All provincial burn permits in the eastern and Interlake regions of Manitoba have been cancelled and a complete ban of motorized back-country travel in affected areas will go into effect Friday as wildfires persist.
The restricted area is from Provincial Road 302 to Provincial Trunk Highway 12 to PR 317 to PTH 59 and PR 319, east to the Ontario border, and from the U.S. border north to Lake Winnipeg and the Winnipeg River. Restricted provincial parks include Whiteshell, Spruce Woods, Beaudry, St. Ambroise Beach, Stephenfield, Birds Hill, Lake St. Andrews and Lake St. George. A travel restriction map can be found on the provincial government's website.
Motorized back-country travel, including ATVs and off-road vehicles, will be banned at all times. Any back-country travel to access remote residences through forestry roads, private roads or trails will require a travel permit. Anyone looking for a permit should contact their local Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures office.
CHRIS GAREAU / THE CARILLON FILES
Motorized back-country travel, including ATVs, will be banned at all times.
The Manitoba Wildfire Service said Thursday that any provincial burn permits under the Wildfires Act that have already been issued in the region are cancelled and no new permits will be issued until the fires improve. Fines for disobeying the bans can result in fines up to $100,000.
No burning permits will be issued for areas bordering communities where restrictions are already in place. Those wondering if their municipality is under a burning restriction should check with their local municipal office.
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Up-to-date information on the wildfires, changes to restrictions and other information can be found online or on X (formerly Twitter).
To report a wildfire, call 911 toll-free at 1-800-782-0076.
Malak AbasReporter
Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak.
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