PARKSVILLE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Category 1 open fire (campfire) prohibitions in the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will be rescinded in all areas. In addition, the Category 2 (backyard burning) and Category 3 (industrial burning) prohibitions will be rescinded in the Haida Gwaii Forest District at the same time and date.
Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District, along with the following activities and equipment:
- Binary exploding targets
- Fireworks (Fireworks Act)
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers
A map of the upcoming changes is below and available online. To check BC Wildfire Service prohibitions in your location, visit our app or the online interactive map. There you can turn on the “fire bans” layer and search for your location of interest. The design and pattern of the yellow overlay corresponds to the prohibitions currently in place. You can also click the overlay and select “more details” for full information.
BC Wildfire Service prohibitions apply to all Crown land that is outside of municipal boundaries. They also apply to the following types of land within municipal boundaries:
- Parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act)
- Recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act)
- Ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act)
- Wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act)
- Private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act)
Municipalities may impose different prohibitions or restrictions based on local conditions. Please check with your local government before engaging in any activity that that could spark a wildfire.
Although fire danger ratings have declined throughout much of the Coastal Fire Centre as a result of recent rainfall, along with shorter days, longer nights and cooler temperatures, the public is encouraged to continue exercising caution with the use of any open fire. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations.
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150. They may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
For more information on open fires, prohibitions and restrictions, visit: gov.bc.ca/saferburning.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree, *5555 on a cell phone, or submit an electronic report through the BC Wildfire public mobile app.
Stay up-to-date on the latest wildfire activity:
- Visit BCWildfire.ca
- Download the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app or access the map and dashboard online
- Follow the BC Wildfire Service on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Contact:
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Coastal Fire Centre
250-951-4209
BCWS.CoFCInfo@gov.bc.ca