Campfire Safety

Campfires are a traditional part of any camping trip; however, without proper supervision, they can easily cause dangerous forest fires. Use fallen wood as fuel instead of live timber. Some campgrounds in BC will also sell cut wood.

During the summer, the embers of a burned down campfire can still reignite. Always make sure that your campfire is fully extinguished, and never leave it unattended. Keep buckets of water nearby, as well as a shovel for throwing dirt on the fire. After putting out a campfire with water, be sure to stir the remains to see if there are still any hot embers - add more water and dirt if necessary.

Campfire bans in British Columbia are regional, and are imposed by the Ministry of Forests. During a regional campfire ban, campfires in the corresponding provincial park areas are also banned, with some exceptions. For certain provincial park campgrounds, campfires may still be allowed as long as they are kept in fire rings, the campground is kept under constant supervision by park staff or contractors, and the area is car accessible.

Provincial Park Closures and Campfire Bans:

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/campfire_bans.html