Effective at 1 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, August 28, the off-road vehicles (ORV) prohibition will be rescinded on Crown land throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

Recent precipitation across much of the southern Interior has reduced wildfire risk enough to lift the ORV prohibition. While conditions have improved, wildfire risk remains and can change quickly, so the BC Wildfire Service will continue to monitor conditions closely.

The rescindment applies to off-road vehicles as defined in the Off-Road Vehicle Act section 2 (a) of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation: All-terrain vehicles; Motorcycles; Off-road side-by-side vehicles.

A reminder, Category 1 campfire, Category 2 open fire, and Category 3 open fire remain prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

Also prohibited are the following equipment and activities (Wildfire Act, Section 12):

Air curtain burners;

Carbonizers;

Fireworks as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC;

Binary exploding targets;

Burn barrels or burn cages or any size or description;

Controlled air incinerators;

Sky lanterns;

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.

Area restrictions are still in affect on a number of wildfires within the southeast region. Reminder to check for local area restrictions before traveling.

The Southeast Fire Centre is asking the public to remain vigilant and follow all wildfire prevention regulations when operating off-road vehicles, including ensuring their ORV is maintained within the manufacturer’s specifications and equipped with a safe and effective spark arrestor. Wildfire conditions can change quickly, and people are reminded to check for current prohibitions and restrictions before heading out.

The rescindment of the ORV prohibition applies to all Crown land that is outside of municipal boundaries. The rescindment also applies to the following types of land within municipal boundaries:

Parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act);

Recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act);

Ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act);

Wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act);

Private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act).

Municipalities may impose different prohibitions or restrictions based on conditions in their local area. Please check with your local government prior to ORV use.

For everyone’s safety, please stay clear of active operations, follow all posted signs and directions from emergency personnel, and give crews the space they need to work to protect public safety.

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.

BC Wildfire Service

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