The District of Squamish will ban all campfires within municipal boundaries starting at noon on Thursday, May 7, aligning with a broader prohibition issued by the Coastal Fire Centre.
All existing campfire permits will be suspended until the ban is lifted, the District said in a press release. Permit holders will be notified directly of the suspension.
The prohibition covers a wide range of activities, including category 1 campfires, category 2 and category 3 open fires, fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels and burn cages, air curtain burners, tiki torches, and wood-burning saunas and hot tubs.
The District noted that some activities are never permitted within its boundaries, regardless of fire bans. These include fires in any public space — such as forests, riverbanks, mountainsides and beaches — as well as open-air burning of yard waste, garden debris and construction materials.
The ban does not apply to cooking stoves powered by gas or propane, or to portable campfire devices fuelled by liquid or gaseous fuel, provided they are CSA or ULC approved, and the flame height stays under 15 centimetres.
Residents can report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation by calling 911 within municipal boundaries, or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free. Cell phone users can also dial *5555.
