Fire bans are a regular summer occurrence in Maple Ridge. Restrictions help mitigate the risk of wildfire, responding to current environmental conditions including drought, weather, and air quality. Bans are issued by Maple Ridge Fire Rescue and align with regional requirements from the Coastal Fire Centre.
Category 2 & 3 Fire Ban Expanded to Include Category 1 Campfires
Following an announcement from the Coastal Fire Centre , Maple Ridge Fire Rescue will expand the current Category 2 and 3 fire ban to include Category 1 fires, effective Thursday, July 16 at noon. The ban will reduce wildfire risk and help preserve public safety.
For details, please read our Public Service Announcement.
Current Fire Bans
Category 1 campfire, and Category 2 and 3 fire bans are in effect. Previously issued burn permits are no longer valid.
Fines
Municipal fines of up to $1000 may be issued for violation of a fire ban.
Provincial fines may be issued for anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition. Tickets may be issued for $1,150, with an additional administrative penalty of $10,000. If convicted in court, penalties can include fines of up to $100,000 and/or jail time.
Reporting Violations
To report a violation, visit MapleRidge.ca/Report, or call the Fire Department’s "non-emergency" number at 604-463-5880.
Fire Ban Categories and Restrictions
All fires, regardless of category, must be safely maintained. A functional water hose and a shovel must be present for the duration of the fire, until it is fully extinguished, and the fire must be monitored in person at all times by an adult (19 years of age or older).
Fires are only permitted on properties designated “Open to Burn” and must have a valid permit. Consult our interactive map to view the "Open to Burn" area. For further details about permits and what is and isn’t allowed in Maple Ridge, visit the “Burn Permits” page.
Category 1 Campfire Specifications
A campfire is an outdoor fire contained within a pit or permanent walls for the purpose of warmth, cooking or a social gathering.
- Fire must be contained within a pit or permanent walls
- Can’t be larger than 0.5 metre in height and 0.5 metre in width,
- Must not be within 15 metres of any building, structure, overhead wires or cables
- Is lit, fuelled or used
- by any person for a recreational purpose, or
- by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.
Category 2 Open Fire Specifications
A category 2 open fire, as defined in the BC Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that burns:
- Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material concurrently in 2 piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
Category 3 Open Fire Specifications
A category 3 open fire, as defined in theBC Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that burns:
- Material concurrently in 3 or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material in one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width
Additional Restrictions
Under a Category 2 or 3 Fire Ban, the following are also prohibited:
- Fireworks
- Binary exploding targets
- Burn barrels and burn cages
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers
- Wood fired hot tubs, wood fired pizza ovens and other wood fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building
Unless otherwise noted, this ban does not apply to:
- CSA-rated or ULC-rated barbeques
- CSA–rated or ULC rated camping-type stoves or portable campfire devices using propane, natural gas or briquettes (when used on private property)