The rain overnight Thursday was nowhere near enough to lift the complete fire ban and ban on use of fireworks outside professional companies.Article contentIf you were lucky enough to get some of the overnight showers your garden or lawn are probably a little happier, but it did little to help the wildfire risk and that means the total fire ban for Nova Scotia imposed Wednesday will remain in effect.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentBecause the ground was so dry, any rainfall absorbed was still nowhere near enough to properly soak the soil and reach the roots of vegetation. It was also not enough to improve the condition of surface fuels like dead grass and leaves. That means that any fires that break out will burn quickly and grow rapidly.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“We are grateful for any rain that we get, but it will take more than a couple of days of rain to change the dry conditions,” Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Adele Poirier said in an emailed statement Friday.Article content“We can’t lift the burn ban until conditions have improved enough to lower the wildfire risk. We are monitoring conditions closely and with the best interests of Nova Scotians in mind.”Article contentThe ban on any burning, and a total ban on use of fireworks except for professional companies, will remain in place until Oct. 15 unless there is some significant rainfall before then. It’s needed because even one spark could start a fire that quickly grows out of control.Article contentThe ban applies to open fires such as campfires, bonfires, brush fires, fires in chimeneas and any other fire that uses wood as fuel. Propane appliances and charcoal barbecues are OK because they don’t use wood, which can send off sparks.Article contentIndustrial burning permits are all revoked.Article contentThere have been 13 wildfires in the province in the past week, and six of those are not yet considered out. That’s because they’re burning so deep with the current soil and weather conditions.Article contentA fire that broke out Wednesday afternoon near Pipeline Road in Head of St. Margarets Bay, near the south end of Big Indian Lake, is considered under control. Natural Resources staff will remain at the scene for the next few days to put out any hotspots and fully extinguish the fire.Article content
Rain early Friday was not enough to ease wildfire threat in Nova Scotia
