In alignment with the Kamloops Fire Centre, effective at 12:00 pm (noon), Pacific Time (PT) on Friday, October 2, 2026, Category 2 and 3 open fires will be permitted again throughout the District of Coldstream.
A category 2 open fire, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that burns:
- material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
- material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
- stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha
A category 3 open fire, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that:
- burns material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
- burns material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width
- has one or more windrows, none of which exceed 200 m in length or 15 m in width
- has stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha
In addition to Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibitions being rescinded, the following equipment and activities are also now permitted:
- 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.
Open burning in Coldstream - Do you need a permit?
Residents are reminded that certain small, recreational fires are permitted without an open burning permit, including outdoor fireplaces, outdoor burning appliances, portable campfire apparatus, and small contained fires measuring no more than 0.5 meters high by 0.5 meters wide.
Larger open burning activities require a permit and are only permitted on properties 2 hectares or larger. The District’s open burning permit season runs from November 1 to April 30, and eligible property owners can apply for a permit at coldstream.ca/open-burning.
To report an open burning violation in Coldstream, please call the District Office at 250-545-5304. If there is immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.
Media Contact:
Ryan Roycroft, Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Phone/Email: (250) 545-5304 / info@coldstream.ca