Fire ban to be enacted for all of Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal regions

The Coastal Fire Centre has implemented a fire ban for all of Vancouver Island and coastal regions of BC.

The fire ban comes into effect beginning at noon on Thursday, May 7th, and will include Category 1, 2 and 3 fires. 

Category 1 fires refer to all campfires and smaller fires, Category 2 fires refer to larger fires that burn material less than two metres in height and three metres in width while Category 3 fires refer to the largest fires permissible, which exceed two metres in height and three metres in width.

The only exception to this fire ban is that Category 1 fires, or campfires, are still permitted on Haida Gwaii. 

According to the Coastal Fire Centre, this prohibition is being enacted slightly early this year in an effort to help reduce human-caused wildfires.

A BC Wildfire Service information officer told Victoria Buzz that the last three weeks’ arming and drying was a major factor in the decision to ban all fires prematurely. 

“In the short-term forecast we are going to see a bit of cooling by the end of the week, but what we don’t see is really any significant rain at all,” she said. 

“So for that reason our indices and our fire danger have continued to pick up over the past few weeks, and that is why we need to make the decision to put in the open fire prohibition.”

In recent years, the ban has been implemented later in the summer. In 2025, for example, campfires were allowed until July 17th. 

“It is earlier than the last couple of years, for sure. Have we had busier times in April or May in previous years—yes we have,” the BC Wildfire Service information officer continued. 

“The nice thing about having the ability to put prohibitions on and take them off on flexible dates, is it allows us to do what we’re doing now.”

Another reason this ban is coming into effect early this year is because open fire is the largest cause of human-caused fires in BC, and human-caused wildfires are entirely preventable. When BC Wildfire Service responds to human-caused fires, they are often forced to divert resources from naturally occurring blazes. 

Since the fire season began on April 1st, all 26 wildfires in the coastal region have been caused by humans. 

This year’s prohibition will be in place until October 31st, or until the order is rescinded.

The fire ban is all-encompassing for parks, campsites and all land that lies within the fire prohibition map, with the exception of municipalities. 

BC Wildfire Service says that municipalities may follow their lead and impose the same restrictions, but set their own fire prohibitions on their own timeline. 

It is important to check your municipalities’ fire restrictions before lighting a fire. 

In addition to all fires being banned, the following activities are also included under the prohibition:

• Fireworks
• Binary exploding targets
• Sky Lanterns
• Wood fired hot tubs, pizza ovens and other wood fired devices that are unvented
• Burn barrels or burn cages
• Controlled air incinerators
• Air curtain burners
• Carbonizers

The use of outdoor stoves, barbeques and propane-fuelled fireplaces are not included under this prohibition. 

The Coastal Fire Centre is reminding British Columbians that anyone having an open fire during this prohibition may face a ticket for $1,150. 

Furthermore, those caught in contravention of the prohibition may have to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. 

If an open fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may have to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.