Campfires now allowed in Ontario’s Quetico Park as conditions improve across the Boundary Waters
WTIP file photo
Outdoor News

Campfires now allowed in Ontario’s Quetico Park as conditions improve across the Boundary Waters

After more than a month, campfires are allowed once again in Quetico Provincial Park following a decision by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to lift the restricted fire zone designation. Recent rainfall across the Boundary Waters region has improved conditions across the canoe-country wilderness areas.

The Quetico campfire ban went into effect June 1. It officially ended Tuesday afternoon (July 11).

A statement posted by Ontario officials Tuesday about the lifting of the campfire restrictions states that “the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry would like to thank Ontarians and visitors for doing their part to help prevent forest fires and keep communities safe,” reads the ministry’s forest fires web page. “Please continue to use extreme caution and follow Ontario’s outdoor fires regulations when having an outdoor fire.”

The U.S. Forest Service implemented a similar ban across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota due to dry conditions earlier in the summer. The BWCA campfire ban ended July 3.

Earlier in July, WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Park Superintendent Trevor Gibb about the 2023 paddling season in Quetico. Audio below.