Campfire Ban in Effect
July 20, 2026
As of July 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Mountain Time, a campfire ban is in effect for the City of Fernie. The City's fire ban mirrors the ban implemented for the entire Southeast Fire Centre and includes prohibitions on Category 2 and 3 fires already implemented. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
This prohibition will remain in place until 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.
All Backyard Fire Pit Permits issued by the City are cancelled for the duration of the fire ban.
A Category 1 campfire is a fire that burns:
1. No larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in width
2. Used for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for ceremonial purposes
Also prohibited is the equipment and activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):
• Air curtain burners
• Carbonizers
• Fireworks as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
• Binary exploding targets
• Burn barrels or burn cages or any size or description
• Controlled air incinerators
• Sky lanterns
• Wood fired hot tubs, wood fired pizza ovens, and other wood fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building
This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.
To learn more about fire restrictions in the Elk Valley, visit the BC Wildfire Service website.
