Province-wide fire ban extended until Sept. 22 as dry conditions across P.E.I. continue

PEIThe fire ban for Prince Edward Island that has been in place throughout August will remain active until Sept. 22, or until further notice, the province says.Island didn’t see enough rain to justify a return to open burning, province saysRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Sep 08, 2025 3:59 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoThe province-wide fire ban has been extended again, and will remain in effect until Sept. 22, or until further notice. (Kaitie Fraser/CBC)The fire ban for Prince Edward Island that has been in place since mid-August will remain active until Sept. 22, or until further notice, the province says. “We were happy to see some rain this weekend, but the long-term forecast is not showing enough rain to justify a return to open burning,” Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Gilles Arsenault was quoted as saying in a news release Monday.”Forestry staff will be monitoring the conditions closely and we will lift the ban once conditions allow.”The ban covers campfires and bonfires on private property, as well as fires at provincial parks and campgrounds. All outdoor burning on private property and at provincial parks and campgrounds, including Bonshaw Provincial Park (pictured), continues to be banned across Prince Edward Island. The fire ban has been extended until Sept. 22. (Jane Robertson/CBC)A fire ban also remains in place in P.E.I. National Park. Visitors to any Parks Canada locations must follow rules put in place by that agency, which issued a fire ban two days before the provincial restrictions came into effect. The province said in the release that fines for defying the ban will continue to be issued and can reach up to $50,000. Anyone who causes a fire during a ban can be held responsible for all damages.Wildfire smoke The Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action is also reminding Islanders that wildfire smoke continues to make its way to P.E.I. from the mainland.Residents are asked to use discretion before calling 911 to report the smell of smoke.Unattended fires and large clouds of smoke should be reported to 911 if seen. ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College Journalism program and a web writer at CBC P.E.I.