Off-road users might be surprised to know the fire risk created by their machines as they travel through wooded areas.
The provincial government this week imposed a province-wide outdoor fire ban as resources concentrate on fighting forest fires in Labrador.
Forestry Minister Elvis Loveless says people enjoying the outdoors on their ATVs and dirt bikes also have an important role to play in forest fire prevention.
He suggests that riders add a so-called spark arrester to their machines, and carry fire extinguishers when they go out in the woods.
Rick Noseworthy, an avid ATV user and President of the Newfoundland T’Railways Association says the spark arrestor is a simple wire mesh inside the muffler of the machine, but that can wear out unbeknownst to the rider.
In addition, some machines and after-market exhausts don’t have spark arresters. “So you need to be aware of that.”