Five people have each been issued a $25,000 fine for violating Nova Scotia’s new burn ban rules, which came into effect on Thursday.

The fine for the ban was previously $237.50.

Open fires, like brush burning or campfires, aren’t allowed anywhere in the province, except by industrial permit, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Bans in specific counties are updated daily at 2 p.m. on the province’s website. If the county is coloured green, that means anyone can burn between 2 p.m. and 8 a.m. If the county is yellow, people can only burn between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., when temperatures are cooler.

Dry, hot or windy weather could put a county into the red zone, which is a total burn ban in that county.

Open fires include:

• campfires and fire pits
• chimineas, fire bowls and stoves that burn wood
• burn barrels
• domestic brush burning
• industrial burning including for agricultural purposes and clearing building lots

Under red conditions, fireworks are also banned, except for professional firework companies.

Sky lanterns are completely banned in Nova Scotia.

Conservation officers issued the fines through the Department of Natural Resources. However, those five tickets don’t include any tickets that may have been issued by police or other enforcement officers, according to department spokesperson Patricia Jreige.

Acadia Broadcasting has reached out to the Nova Scotia RCMP for information on any fines they may have issued under the new burn ban rules.