Wildfire / Legislation and Burn Info / Burn Permit and Open Burning Notes

Burn Permit and Open Burning Notes

Verify before relying on this offline: Regulations, permit requirements, and local bylaws change. This page summarizes the general BC framework as a refresher for offline use. Always confirm current rules with the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), the local Fire Danger Rating/Burn Registration system, and BC Wildfire Service before advising the public or conducting any burning.

Key BC Legislation

  • Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation — set out requirements for industrial activity, high-risk activities, and open burning during fire season, including who is responsible for costs if an escaped fire causes damage or requires suppression.
  • Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) — relevant for burning associated with forestry operations.
  • Local government bylaws (RDCO / Electoral Areas) — may further restrict or prohibit open burning regardless of provincial rules (e.g., backyard burning bans, burn barrel rules, smoke control bylaws). Local bylaws can be more restrictive than provincial rules but not less.

Categories of Open Burning (General BC Framework)

  • Category 1 Fire — Small piles (e.g., ≤ 2 m in diameter and 1 m in height), generally the least restrictive, but still subject to burn registration/notification requirements and bans.
  • Category 2 Fire — Larger piles or multiple piles (e.g., piles between 2–3 m in diameter/height, or up to a specified number of piles), typically requires registration and may require a smoke control permit.
  • Category 3 Fire — Large-scale burning (e.g., broadcast burns, larger piles, or burns covering significant area), typically requires a written permit/burn registration and notification to BCWS, and often a venting/smoke forecast check.

In all cases:

  • Burn registration with BCWS (online "Burn Registration" system) is generally required for Category 2 and 3 burns, and the burn must comply with venting index/smoke forecasts.
  • Burning is prohibited during a fire ban (campfire bans and/or open burning bans), regardless of category — bans are issued by BCWS Fire Centres and can also be issued locally.
  • A permit/registration does not remove responsibility — the person responsible for the fire is responsible for any escape, including suppression costs.

Smoke Control / Air Quality

  • The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation restricts burning based on local air quality conditions (ventilation index) to reduce smoke impacts on communities, particularly in valley bottoms like the Okanagan where smoke can pool.
  • Even a permitted/registered burn may need to be postponed if the local venting forecast is poor.

Practical Notes for Members

  • Before responding to/advising on a "controlled burn" call: confirm whether the resident has registered the burn (if required) and whether a current fire ban is in effect.
  • If a fire ban is in effect and a member of the public is burning without authorization, follow JRFD's established procedure for reporting/enforcement (escalate to the appropriate authority — RDCO Bylaw and/or BCWS, depending on jurisdiction and burn category).
  • Always check current conditions — fire danger ratings and bans can change quickly during fire season; what was permitted last week may not be today.

Where to Check Current Status (when online)

  • BC Wildfire Service — Bans and Prohibitions page
  • BC Wildfire Service — Burn Registration system
  • RDCO — current bylaws for open burning in Electoral Areas
  • Local fire danger rating signage / Fire Centre updates

Local Notes (Joe Rich)

Add any locally-relevant notes: typical times of year burning is common locally, any recurring problem areas, and the current escalation contact/process for unauthorized burning during a ban.

  • (add local notes here)