Campfire ban lifted within District of Squamish following Coastal Fire Centre's move to rescind its ban

The District of Squamish has lifted the campfire ban following the province’s move to rescind its campfire ban across the Coastal Fire Centre on September 11, 2018.

Allowable campfires must be no bigger than a half-metre wide and a half-metre high. The use of tiki torches, chimineas, and stoves and portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved is also now permitted.

The current ban on larger Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remains in effect throughout the Coastal Fire Centre. This includes prohibitions on:

• Stubble or grass burning of any size;
• The use of sky lanterns;
• The use of fireworks (including firecrackers);
• The use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description;
• The use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for target practice).

A total of 135 human-caused wildfires have occurred within the Coastal Fire Centre since April 1, 2018 which is greater than the 10-year average.

Please consider the following precautions when lighting a campfire:

• Select the campfire site carefully and remove all leaves, twigs and other flammable material from the area.
• Create a fire break by scraping away debris right down to the dirt all around the fire.
• Use a fire pit or put a ring of rocks around the campfire site that is at least three metres away from trees, shrubs, structures and other flammable materials.
• Campfires must not be bigger than a half-metre wide and a half-metre high.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Keep at least eight litres of water or a shovel close by at all times to extinguish a campfire properly.
• Make sure that a campfire is completely extinguished before going to sleep. Ensure that the fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

The District of Squamish Fire Services Bylaw requires that each person who lights, maintains or is otherwise responsible for a campfire must first obtain a permit from the Fire Chief. All current backyard campfire permits are reinstated and new applications are being accepted. Please click here to apply for the permit.

September 11, 2018