Campfires Near Vancouver — Where, When & the $1,150 Question
Where campfires near Vancouver are legal in 2026, how BC fire bans change the answer, the real fine ranges, and what to do when a Category 1 ban is on.
Provincial state of emergency
British Columbia has been under a provincial state of emergency since 8 August 2026. Fire prohibitions are tightened and enforced hardest under a declaration, and local bans can be added without notice — check the official prohibition before you light anything. Live fire map and evacuation orders.
Shoppers Drug Mart Deals Vancouver This Week 2026
Deals pulled from current public store flyers for Vancouver (postal V6B) — refreshed Thursday 13 August 2026, 15:50 UTC. Prices can vary by location; the flyer is the final word.
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No. Open fires and beach fires are prohibited on all City of Vancouver beaches and in all city parks, year-round — this includes charcoal barbecues on the sand. Propane appliances are allowed only in designated picnic areas. Fire wardens and park rangers do patrol English Bay and Kits on summer evenings.
Where is the closest place to legally have a campfire? +
When no ban is in effect: the metal fire rings at frontcountry provincial campgrounds — Porteau Cove, Alice Lake, Golden Ears, Cultus Lake — and most private campgrounds. During a Category 1 prohibition (like the one that began July 16, 2026 for the coast) even those rings go cold, and only CSA/ULC-rated propane fire bowls with a flame under 15 cm remain legal.
What is the fine for a campfire during a ban in BC? +
A violation ticket is $1,150 on the spot. If it goes to court, penalties run up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail — and if your fire escapes, you can be billed for the full cost of fighting the wildfire. Enforcement is real: BC hands out tens of thousands of dollars in campfire tickets over single long weekends.
What counts as a legal campfire when fires are allowed? +
Category 1: max half a metre high by half a metre wide, one fire per group, cleared to soil in a 1-metre fireguard, with a hand tool or at least 8 litres of water beside it. Never leave it unattended, and it must be cold to the touch before you walk away.