In alignment with the Kamloops Fire Centre, effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on September 3, 2026 Category 1 campfires will be permitted throughout the District of Coldstream. Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.
As the campfire prohibition is being lifted, we ask the public to remain vigilant and follow all regulations when enjoying campfires. Learn more about open fire and safer burning here.
A map of the affected area is available here.
A campfire, or small contained fire, is defined as:
- Any fire no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide (a fire larger than this is considered a Category 2 fire).
- Used by any person for recreational purposes.
The following activities remain prohibited:
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers
- Binary exploding targets
- Fireworks, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description, except when used for a Category 1 campfire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
- Controlled air incinerators
Other activities which were previously prohibited, but will now be permitted include:
- Sky lanterns
- Wood fired hot tubs, wood fired pizza ovens and other wood fired devices, including those vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building
This rescindment applies to the following types of land within municipal boundaries:
- parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act);
- recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act);
- ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act);
wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act); and
- private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act).
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required 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 the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663 5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions and more:
- Visit BCWildfire.ca
- Download the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app or access the map and dashboard online
- Follow the BC Wildfire Service on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube