Woods ban lifted in Pictou, Colchester counties

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources said in a news release on Thursday that the risk of wildfires is now low enough in those areas to allow for travel and activities in the woods.Wildfire risk now low enough to resume travel and activities in the woods, Natural Resources saysAnjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: Sep 11, 2025 12:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoNova Scotia lifted its woods ban in Pictou and Colchester counties on Thursday. The burn ban is still in effect throughout the province. (Richard Woodbury/CBC)Nova Scotia’s Department of Natural Resources has lifted the woods ban in Pictou and Colchester counties.In a news release on Thursday, the department said the risk of wildfires is now low enough in those areas that travel and activities in the woods can resume.The restrictions, which began Aug. 5, were previously lifted in Cape Breton, Richmond, Victoria, Inverness, Guysborough, Antigonish and Halifax counties on Aug. 29.The woods ban remains in effect for Cumberland, Hants, Lunenburg, Kings, Annapolis, Queens, Shelburne, Digby and Yarmouth counties.In those areas, the department said conditions “continue to be extremely dry and hazardous.” It said the woods ban will remain until Oct. 15 or “until conditions allow them to be lifted.”The fine for violating the ban is $25,000.Nova Scotia’s burn ban is still in place for the whole province until Oct. 15, which is considered to be the end of wildfire season, or until conditions “improve further.”