Campfire Ban in Effect for Sooke Starting May 7, 2026

Starting at 12 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, May 7, 2026, all open burning including campfires, will be prohibited across the Coastal Fire Centre region, including Sooke.

This ban is in place to reduce wildfire risk and is expected to remain until October 31, 2026, or until lifted.

Open burning remains the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in B.C.—fires that are entirely preventable. These incidents can put people and property at risk, strain emergency response resources, and pull crews away from naturally occurring wildfires both in our community and across the province.

Frequently Asked Questions

All open fires are prohibited, including:

  • Campfires (even small ones)
  • Backyard or yard waste burning
  • Agricultural or field burning
  • Large-scale debris burning

In simple terms: if it’s an open flame outdoors and not contained in an approved device, it’s not allowed.

Other prohibited activities

The following are also not allowed:

  • Fireworks
  • Sky lanterns
  • Binary exploding targets
  • Burn barrels or burn cages
  • Air curtain burners and incinerators
  • Carbonizers
  • Wood-fired hot tubs, pizza ovens, or similar devices (unless connected to a proper chimney in a building)

You can still use approved outdoor stoves, such as:

  • Propane or gas BBQs
  • Camping stoves
  • CSA- or ULC-rated devices

These must:

  • Use gas, liquid fuel, or charcoal briquettes
  • Have a flame height under 15 cm

Penalties may be enforced under both the District of Sooke Fire Regulation Bylaw and provincial legislation.

If you break the rules, you could face:

  • A $1,150 ticket
  • Up to $10,000 in administrative penalties
  • Up to $100,000 in fines and/or 1 year in jail (if convicted)

If your fire causes a wildfire, you may also be required to pay all firefighting and related costs.

Report a wildfire

  • Call 1-800-663-5555 (toll-free)
  • Dial *5555 on your cell
  • Use the BC Wildfire Service app

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Contact Us

District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road
Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2 


Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm
Phone: 250-642-1634

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