STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — A Piccadilly man is facing a fine after a house in the town that caught fire due to a grass fire he set without a permit.
The 63-old-man was charged with burning without a permit under the Forestry Act by the Bay St. George Royal Canadian Mounted Police last week.
Police were called to the scene of the fire at about 4 p.m. on April 25 and found that a vacant, condemned house was on fire. They say the house fire was unintentionally set but originated from the intentionally set grass fire which got out of control.
The current ban on fires in the province prohibits grass fires and the Piccadilly fire was not the first suspected to have been set in violation of the ban.
The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources said Friday it is investigating a fire that occurred near Harbour Grace on Thursday believed to have been caused by someone burning brush without a permit and leaving the fire unattended.
Forest firefighting staff and an air tanker responded to the fire, which burned an area of two hectares.
Individuals issued summary tickets for violating the regulations are also issued a court summons. Penalties for those convicted of the charge range from a minimum $500 fine for a first office and minimum $1,000 fine for a second offence.
The forest fire season for the island portion of the province will be in effect until Sept. 30.
To reduce risk of COVID-19 exposure for firefighters and other first responders, and to protect communities from risk of wildfires, permits to burn are only being issued for agriculture, silviculture and fire training purposes. Permits can be obtained at a local forestry and wildlife district office.
Fires for agricultural purposes require permission from a forestry official with the department. Farmers requesting a permit in or near a forested area must be farmers with commercial sales, or new farmers developing land, with an adequate protection plan established for the area to be burned.
Permits will only be issued based on the current fire weather index, depot capacity, and availability of air tanker support. Permits may be cancelled or suspended if fire risk is high.
The forest fire season in Labrador is scheduled to start June 1, subject to weather conditions and wildfire risk, and will also remain in place until Sept. 30.
