Campfire Bans & Safety

Campfire Bans

Campfire Bans

Current BC Fire Bans

BC Parks affected by campfire bans

BC Parks will provide information about campfire bans when notified by the BC Wildfire Service. Campfire restrictions may occur at any time due to rapid changes in conditions and circumstances, which can be difficult to predict. BC Parks will endeavor to maintain up-to-date information, but setting and lifting of restrictions may occur without warning.

Before you arrive: check the park's webpage, consult the BC Wildfire Service Website, or contact the Wildfire Information Line for updates. Remain alert for new information on local radio stations and social media channels.

During times of high fire risk, be prepared. It is recommended that you always bring a portable stove for cooking.

During your visit: Failure to comply with a ban can result in fines and there are heavy penalties for those found to be responsible for starting a wildfire.

Campfire Safety

Campfire Safety Brochure (BCWS) [PDF]

When the sun goes down and the night sky appears, campers gather around the fire to tell stories, sing songs and experience the warmth a fire offers. However, campfires can also present some risk. Here are some campfire safety tips for your next camping adventure.

Things you will need:
Lighter or matches                      
Shovel
Hatchet
Bucket
Water (8 litres recommended)

STEP 1: Check if there is a fire ban in effect in the area by visiting BC Wildfire Service’s webpage.  If there is a fire ban, sorry – no campfire this time, but if there is no ban, please continue to step 2.

STEP 2: Use approved fire-rings or pits to build your fire if campfires are permitted. Start by clearing a four-foot radius around the designated fire area. The area should be free of grass, twigs, leaves, and firewood.

The fire should be at least 15 feet away from tent walls, hanging branches, and any surrounding vegetation.

STEP 3: Typically, to start and maintain a healthy campfire you’ll need 3 types of wood. Note: Do not gather wood material from your campsite or surrounding areas.

  1. Tinder (small, dry bits of kindling)
  2. Kindling (small and thin pieces of wood)
  3. Fuel (firewood)

Start by loosely piling the tinder in the centre of the fire pit. Once a solid collection of tinder has been placed, it’s time to add the kindling on top. You can stack kindling in a cone shape (pointy side up), or like a log cabin. Use your lighter or match to ignite the tinder. Blow lightly at the base of the fire to get it started.

Add more kindling when your fire has some life to it. When the fire is hot enough, add the fuel (larger pieces of firewood) to the fire. Avoid overloading the firewood to prevent your fire from being smothered.

Keep the fire small and under control (0.5 metres by 0.5 metres). Never leave a fire unattended. It is extremely important that children and pets are supervised around the campfire.

STEP 4:  The best way to extinguish a fire is to let the wood burn completely to ash. If time does not allow for this, completely extinguish the fire with buckets of water. Pour water until the hissing sound stops and use your shovel to stir and break up the campfire.

For more information about fire management, visit BC Wildfire Service’s webpage.