Amendments to the Foresty Act and Regulations came into effect June 3, 2026.
Associated regulatory changes include updated Forest Fire Offence and Penalty Regulations, Forest Fire Regulations and Mill Regulations.
Highlights
- Fire-related penalties are consolidated under the Forest Fire Offence and Penalty Regulations.
- Penalties are specifically tailored to reflect the severity and risk of various types of unlawful activity.
- Fire-related offences include reckless or negligent conduct, as well as deliberate acts.
- Forestry officials may ban forest travel in municipal and private parks and campgrounds if the wildfire risk is elevated.
- Land containing flammable vegetation, as well as forest land and areas within 300 meters of forest land, are included in areas where forestry officials can require a burn permit, declare a fire ban, or ban forest travel.
- Forest land includes any area where natural vegetation grows. This includes forests, yards, fields, parks, paths, greenbelts, dry marsh, bogland and barrens.
- Flammable vegetation includes living or dead plant material that could ignite easily, burn for a long time, and spread the fire.
- A forestry official may order a person to leave an area if necessary to control or extinguish a fire.
- Sawmill waste, such as large residue piles that pose a wildfire risk in the surrounding forest land, is regulated.
- Sawmills must maintain a minimum buffer of 30 metres of non-flammable material between any sawmill residue pile and surrounding vegetation.
- Mill owners must have a sawmill residue management plan in place outlining how they will manage residue to prevent forest fires or harm to the environment.
- Failure to follow a management plan will result in all or part of mill operations being suspended.
- Fire works and sky lanterns are banned when the Fire Weather Index is yellow (high risk), orange (very high risk), or red (extreme risk).
- Operating permits are automatically suspended when the Fire Weather Index is red (extreme risk).
What do the changes mean for private park or campground owners/operators?
Private parks and campgrounds are generally located on or near forest lands, and recreational activities in these areas often involve hiking, riding all-terrain vehicles, or lighting campfires.
Changes align the responsibilities of private park or campground owner/operators with those of Provincial Parks.
During prolonged periods of elevated forest fire risk, some activities may be curtailed until the risk is reduced.
What do the changes mean for industrial operators?
Companies operating during Forest Fire Season will be required to:
- Determine whether they need an operating permit for the activity they are conducting.
- Comply with the operating permit and conditions.
- Be aware that their operation could be shut down during prolonged periods of elevated forest fire risk.
What do the changes mean for residents?
Anyone having an outdoor fire must adhere to restrictions on outdoor burning.
Fire works and sky lanterns are banned during a fire ban, or when the Fire Weather Index is yellow (high risk), orange (very high risk), or red (extreme risk).
Residents should be aware that fines associated with violating Forestry Act and Forest Fire Regulations have increased substantially.
Anyone who violates the Forestry Act or the Forest Fire Regulations may face penalties, including the costs of fighting a forest fire.
What do the changes mean for municipalities?
Municipalities and residents cannot use fireworks or sky lanterns when the Fire Weather Index is yellow (high risk), orange (very high risk), or red (extreme risk).
Municipal officials and residents require operating permits for town-related developments or activities, and must comply with the operating permit and associated conditions.
Operations could shut down during prolonged periods of elevated forest fire risk.