The Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibition will be lifted in the Coastal Fire Centre starting at 12:00 noon, Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. This means that all open burning will once again be permitted within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Please be aware that all Category 2 and Category 3 fires must adhere to the venting index.  Burning is only permitted when the venting index is good.  Burning is not permitted if the venting index is poor or fair.

Venting index information can be found here: https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/venting/

We are listed under Central Vancouver Island.

Other activities which were previously banned, but will now be permitted include:

• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches
• The use of chimineas
• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating
• Fireworks, including firecrackers
• Sky Lanterns
• Binary Exploding Targets
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
• Air Curtain Burners

Regarding Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, this change will allow the following activities:

• "category 2 open fire" which means an open fire, other than a campfire, that burns material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
• burns material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width, or
• burns stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha.
• "category 3 open fire" which means an open fire that burns
• material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
• material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width,
• one or more windrows, or stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha.

Check out this great tool updated by the RDN.  It shows all the local fire departments with links to their websites, contact info, the venting index, burning bylaw, and bans:

Open burning - or burning outdoors - is allowed when the wildfire risk is low, however, there are important rules and regulations to follow for campfires to burn piles.  Before starting any fire on your property, check to see that it complies with our municipal bylaws and provincial regulations. 

REMEMBER:

• NO OUTDOOR FIRES ARE PERMITTED DURING A TOTAL FIRE BAN.
• BURNING OF NON-WOOD MATERIAL IS PROHIBITED.

We live in an area considered a "high smoke sensitivity zone" and any outdoor burning requires us to follow the Venting Index.  The Venting Index reflects the potential of the atmosphere to disperse smoke and other pollutants. The Ventilation Index ranges from 0 to 100, as summarized in this table: 

The Venting Index must register as "GOOD" (55-100) in order to burn.  "GOOD" means the smoke is more likely to disperse; "POOR" indicates that the pollution is more likely to hang or drop to lower elevations.   It is the combination of ventilation forecast and smoke sensitivity zone at your location that determines if you can burn and for how long.

An automated telephone service that provides information about the ventilation index can be reached by dialing 1-888-281-2992 (toll-free).  

Click on the link below to find out today's Venting Index, our area is listed as: CNTRL VAN ISLD

A permit is required when burning a pile larger than 10' x 10'. 

To obtain a Burn Registration Number in advance of your fire, call 1-888-797-1717 (toll-free).

Have a question about burning in the Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Spider Lake & Horne Lake area's? 

Call BOW HORN BAY FIRE DEPARTMENT on 250-757-9433.  We are here to help!