Placentia-Whitbourne RCMP tickets man for failing to comply with Forestry Act

June 24, 2026 - Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
From: Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP

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A 41-year-old man was issued a ticket under the Forestry Act, after the Placentia Fire Department and Placentia-Whitbourne RCMP attended an unauthorized fire at a property in Ferndale last week. 

Around 9:00 p.m. on June 15, the Placentia Fire Department attended a property in Ferndale in response to a report of burning brush. The property owner did have a permit to burn, as required, but the Fire Weather Index in the area at the time was yellow (high risk). Under provincial forest fire regulations, a permit to burn is suspended automatically when the fire weather index in the area is yellow (high), orange (very high) or red (extreme). 

The property owner was instructed to extinguish the fire by the Placentia Fire Department. However, Placentia-Whitbourne RCMP received an update shortly after 11:30 p.m. that the fire was still burning. Officers attended the property and issued the permit holder a ticket under Section 98(5) of the Forestry Act. 

While the Resource Enforcement Division of the provincial government is the primary agency responsible for enforcement and investigations under the Forestry Act, RCMP officers do have the authority to issue tickets to those who violate the act. 

Earlier this month, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador amended the Forestry Act, and introduced a new Wildfire Prevention and Management website as a one stop resource for forest fire season information. This website includes the daily Fire Weather Index across the province, wildfire prevention guidelines and important information about regulations, restrictions and penalties. 

It is your responsibility to understand your obligations under the Forestry Act and any applicable municipal guidelines, even if you have a permit to burn. 

To learn more about wildfire management and prevention, visit gov.nl.ca/fal/wildfiremanagement.

To report a wildfire, call 1-866-709-FIRE (3473) immediately. 

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