Nova Scotia bans all fireworks as province remains tinder-dry

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Amid some public backlash, the Nova Scotia government has put a ban on all fireworks in the province until further notice.

Retail or consumer fireworks use has been banned since the province imposted a province-wide burn ban last week, but commercial fireworks shows put on by professional and certified companies with signoffs and approvals by municipal officials were still allowed.

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There had been complaints and concerns in online posts that those shows could still present a danger in the province, and that allowing them to be held was still putting people and communities at risk.

At 9 p.m. on Wednesday, the province said it was banning the use of all fireworks and pyrotechnics until the burn ban is lifted to lower the risk of wildfire and protect communities across the province. That includes any planned events that have already received approval.

As of now, the ban is in place until Oct. 15, or until conditions change and allow it to be lifted. The Department of Natural Resources has already said that it will take multiple days of steady rain to reduce the wildfire risk.

The current risk is extreme because of an extended period of hot, sunny and sometimes windy weather that has left the trees, grass, ground and soil below the surface all dry.

The fine for violating the fireworks ban is $25,000, and Premier Tim Houston said earlier this week there is a zero-tolerance stance when it comes to violations of the ban.

The province banned all open fires as of July 30, and woods travel and activities were banned Tuesday. There have been multiple fires reported since those bans were imposed, but fire crew have been able to contain them before they grew into large incidents.