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Off-Road Vehicles to be prohibited in Coastal Fire Centre
PARKSVILLE – Effective immediately, Monday, August 10, 2026, off-road vehicles (ORV) will be prohibited on Crown Land in the Coastal Fire Centre with exceptions North Island/Mid Coast, Mid Island and Sunshine Coast.
Exceptions include that off-road vehicles (ORV) remain permitted in:
- portions of the South Island Forest District including Regional District of Nanaimo and Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot
- North Island Central Coast Forest District
- Campbell River Forest District
- Sunshine Coast Forest District
Given the scope and scale of fires currently burning in B.C., and the elevated danger ratings in many southern regions of the province, this prohibition is being put into place to further protect public safety.
As of Monday, August 10, 2026, the operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational purposes on Crown land will be prohibited and all on-highway vehicles must remain on road surfaces as defined in the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
The prohibition applies to off-road vehicles as defined in the Off-Road Vehicle Act and section 2 (a) of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation:
- all-terrain vehicles
- motorcycles
- off road side-by-side vehicles
This prohibitions does not apply to private lands or national parks. It also does not apply to emergency response, agriculture or commercial / industrial users who operate off road vehicles for farming or business purposes.
A map of the affected areas is available below:
This prohibition will remain in place until 12:00 noon Pacific Time October 9, 2026, or until the order is rescinded. The BC Wildfire Service is continually monitoring conditions and this prohibition may be expanded or rescinded as needed.
Reminder that wildfires are dynamic and conditions can change quickly. Before traveling, check the Prohibitions and Restrictions page for any area restrictions, and review DriveBC.ca for road impacts.
Report an off-road violation
To report a violation of the ORV prohibition, call the RAPP line at: 1 877 952-7277.
You can also digitally report a violation using the online reporting service.
Report a wildfire
The Coastal Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires by:
- Dialing *5555 on a cell phone
- Calling 1 800 663-5555 toll-free
- Reporting through the BC Wildfire App with the Report a fire function
- Reporting through the app lets you upload images and can be used without service
Stay up-to-date with the latest wildfire news on:
Contact:
Fire Information Team
Coastal Fire Centre
BC Wildfire Service | Ministry of Forests
250-951-4209
bcws.cofcinformationofficer@gov.,bc.ca
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect
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