“The fire is really the central part of why we camp, we love to have camp fires,” said camping enthusiast, Shawn Dagg.
Camping without a fire has nearly extinguished the camping spirit for Shawn Dagg and his family.
“We’ve actually resorted to getting a bug light and set in the middle just to provide some ambiance in the middle you try anything you can,” said Dagg.
Now after two long weeks at Birds Hill campground, the fire ban has been lifted.
“We are reducing the fire ban in Birds Hill Provincial Park so that will be the restriction, fires will be allowed in approved fire pits from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.,” said Duane Feely of Manitoba Conservation.
Thursday night’s rain storm helped, but it was not enough to lift all fire and travel restrictions in the province.
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A back country ban on all trails remains in effect including at Bird’s Hill and a fire ban is still in place for most of the southeastern Manitoba. The ban is still in effect in the Grand Beach area and the Whiteshell Provincial Park.
“We need a wide spread rain over the next couple days and 25 miles of rain at least one inch of rain over that period of time to help alleviate the drought conditions on the east side of the lake,” said Manitoba Conservation.
Thursday nights storm is a blessing for Birds Hill, but it will likely cause problems in other dry areas. Manitoba Conservation expects in the next couple of days more fires will start up caused by last nights lighting strikes.
“We anticipate the fires will start up Saturday or Sunday,” said Feely.
Currently there are nine controlled forest fires burning in the province. Crews are on high alert, as some campers continue to break the ban.
“Just two nights ago, someone who just showed up had lit a fire and within five minutes the Manitoba Conservation was there and it was out,” said Dagg.
Twenty-seven campers have been charged and 22 have been warned by the Manitoba Conservation.
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