HUDSON BAY MAN FINED $2,500 FOR BURNING DURING A FIRE BAN

A Hudson Bay man has been fined $2,500 in Hudson Bay Provincial Court for burning during a fire ban.

David Hrebeniuk was convicted under The Prairie and Forest Fires Act for failing to comply with an order prohibiting the setting of any fire within a burning permit area when an extreme fire hazard exists.

The charge was laid as the result of an investigation by the Ministry of Environment in May of 2011. Conservation officers observed smoke within the burning permit area of the provincial forest near Hudson Bay and found that the accused had started a fire along a creek to burn off grass, trees and shrubs. The accused was ordered to put the fire out and was subsequently charged as there was a fire ban in effect at the time due to extreme fire hazards.

"Landowners and the public must obey the fire bans within the burning permit area of the provincial forest to reduce the risk of wildfires," Ministry of Environment Compliance and Enforcement Director Ken Aube said. "In addition to the significant fines that may be imposed by the courts, landowners are also fully responsible for the suppression costs of any fire that escapes and the damages that may result."

The public is reminded that between April 1 and October 31, it is illegal to start a fire within 4.5 kilometres of a provincial forest without first obtaining a free burning permit and notification number for every quarter section of land lying wholly or partly within 4.5 kilometres of the provincial forest boundary. Burning permit applications are available online at www.environment.gov.sk.ca/fire under Burning Permits or at your local Forest Protection Office.

Under extremely dry conditions, the ministry may declare a ‘Fire Ban' for a specified area within the province. When this occurs, notification numbers will be suspended. When the fire ban has been lifted, the land-owner may apply for a new notification number.

The public is encouraged to report any fires observed to the nearest Ministry of Environment Forest Protection Office or by calling the toll-free Firewatch number 1-800-667-9660.

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For more information, contact:

Jeanette Krayetski
Environment
Prince Albert
Phone: 306-953-2691