Campfire ban coming to much of B.C. starting tomorrow
The BC Wildfire Service has announced that a campfire ban is coming to much of the province starting tomorrow.
In a notice issued by the Ministry of Forests, the Coastal Fire Centre’s Campfire Prohibition stated that Category 1, 2, and 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction starting on Thursday, July 16, at 12 noon.
However, exceptions are in place for Category 1 in parts of the North Island and Sunshine Coast.
EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock
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“Conditions are continually monitored, and restrictions are implemented where they are needed most to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires and help protect communities, responders and our forests,” announced BC Wildfire Service on social media.
According to the Government of BC, the ban, which restricts category 2 and 3 open fires, also prohibits:
- Fireworks
- Binary exploding targets
- Sky Lanterns
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burner
- Carbonizers
BC Wildfire Service
Category 1 campfires are still allowed in four districts in the province, including the Campbell River Forest District, North Island Central Coast Forest District, Haida Gwaii Forest District, and Sunshine Coast Forest District.
“Anyone choosing to light a Category 1 campfire in permitted areas must do so responsibly and in accordance with Section 20 of the Wildfire Regulation,” added the BC Wildfire Service.
Its guidelines include:
- Do not burn in windy conditions
- Establish and maintain a fuel break
- Do not leave the fire unattended
- Ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving the area
- Carry out fire control immediately and/or report the fire if it spreads beyond the established fuel break
EB Adventure Photography/Shutterstock
B.C. wildfires could still take a turn for the worse this summer.
The BC Wildfire Service told Daily Hive in an email that, while we’ve seen “moderate June rains in various areas of the province,” there is cause for concern, as “underlying drought conditions remain.”
This is especially prevalent in the South Coast and central and Southern Interior Regions.
The Summer 2026 Seasonal Outlook noted that long-range guidance still “favours a warmer-than-normal summer across much of B.C. and Canada.”
Members of the public who see a wildfire, an unattended campfire, or an open burning violation are asked to call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free, *5555 on a cell phone, or send a report through the BC Wildfire public mobile app.