Table of contents

Report a wildfire: If you see a wildfire in a forested area call 310-FIRE (3473)

Active fire bans

Find the latest information on all active fire advisories, fire restrictions and fire bans across the province.

Learn more

Firefighter spraying a hose, wearing a yellow uniform with a black arm patch that says Alberta Wildfire and has an image of a pine tree, shovel and axe

Overview

The Government of Alberta has a tiered fire ban system restricting activities that may cause wildfires in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) of Alberta. Fire advisories, restriction or bans, forest closures and off-highway vehicle restrictions can effectively reduce the number of human-caused wildfires. These are temporary measures brought in according to conditions. As fire danger levels rise or fall, these restrictions can be adjusted to reduce the likelihood of preventable wildfires.

Forest Protection Area map

  • Jurisdiction

    The Government of Alberta:

    • is the wildfire authority (under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act) in the FPA of Alberta
    • manages and responds to all wildfires in this area
    • is responsible for issuing permits and putting on fire bans

    Any city, town, village or summer village in the FPA has the authority to put on their own fire bans.

  • Ministerial Orders

    During times of high wildfire hazard, the province may use a ministerial order to issue a fire restriction, fire ban, off-highway vehicle (OHV) restriction or forest closure within the FPA. This is a temporary law put in place to lower the risk of human-caused wildfires when the hazard is high. See Wildfire compliance and enforcement for a list of past and present orders related to Forestry Division activities.

Fire advisory

Flame over logs on a yellow circle with a black outline

A fire advisory is an indication that the fire danger rating has increased. Fire permits may be restricted. Safe campfires are allowed in campgrounds and backcountry or random camping areas.

Activity Restriction level
Fire permits May be restricted or suspended
Safe wood campfires on public lands Allowed
Safe wood campfires in a designated campground Allowed
Safe wood campfires on private land Allowed
Safe wood campfire in backyard fire pits Allowed
Barbeque – Charcoal briquette Allowed
Fireworks Always prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Exploding targets Always prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Propane/natural gas powered appliances Allowed
Indoor wood fire Allowed
Open flame oil devices Allowed

Fire restriction

Flame over logs on an orange circle with a black outline and diagonal line across

A fire restriction prohibits the use of wood campfires on public land but does allow wood campfires inside provincial campgrounds and private property. Fire permits may be restricted, suspended or cancelled and no new fire permits will be issued.

Activity Restriction level
Fire permits Restricted or suspended
Safe wood campfires on public lands Not allowed
Safe wood campfires in a designated campground Allowed
Safe wood campfires on private land Allowed
Safe wood campfire in backyard fire pits Allowed
Barbeque – Charcoal briquette Allowed
Fireworks Always prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Exploding targets Always prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Propane/natural gas powered appliances Allowed
Indoor wood fire Allowed
Open flame oil devices Allowed

Fire ban

Flame over logs on a red circle with a black outline and diagonal line across

A fire ban prohibits wood campfires on public land, campgrounds and private land including backyard fire pits. Fire permits will be suspended or cancelled, and no new permits will be issued.

Activity Restriction level
Fire permits Suspended
Safe wood campfires on public lands Not allowed
Safe wood campfires in a designated campground Not allowed
Safe wood campfires on private land Not allowed
Safe wood campfire in backyard fire pits Not allowed
Barbeque – Charcoal briquette Not allowed
Fireworks Not allowed
Exploding targets Not allowed
Propane/natural gas powered appliances Allowed
Indoor wood fire Allowed
Open flame oil devices Allowed

Off-highway vehicle restriction

OHV icon in a grey circle with a black outline and diagonal line across

An off-highway vehicle (OHV) restriction prohibits the use of OHVs on public land, including designated OHV trails. An OHV is a motorized vehicle designed to go beyond defined roadways.

OHV definition

An OHV is a motorized vehicle designed to go beyond defined roadways, including but not limited to:

  • quads
  • side-by-sides
  • dirt bikes
  • jeeps
  • pickup trucks
  • sport utility vehicles
  • snowmobiles

An OHV is further defined in section 117 of the Traffic Safety Act.

For more information about OHV safety, see Off-highway vehicle safety.

Forest closure

Flame over logs on a black circle with a grey outline and diagonal line across

A forest closure is enacted when the fire danger has reached such extreme levels that portions of the forest are closed and no access is permitted for public safety reasons. Access will only be granted by permit for those required to enter those specified lands.

Safe fire guidelines

  • Safe wood campfires

    Safe wood campfires should be within a metal, brick or rock fire ring. They are required to:

    • be on rock, gravel, sand, or another non-combustible surface that extends at least one metre around the fire
    • have a responsible person in attendance to keep the fire under control at all times and extinguish it before leaving
    • have enough water on site to extinguish the fire

    Safe wood campfires on private land include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas. Municipalities, campgrounds and parks (federal and provincial), may have additional fire safety requirements.

  • Designated campground

    A designated campground includes campgrounds on private and public land provided the occupant has their safe wood campfires in a permanently installed engineered fire ring.

  • Indoor wood fire

    An indoor wood fire is a fire inside a structure (such as facility, building, tent or RV) and contained within a device with a chimney and spark arrestor.

  • Open flame oil devices

    All devices (deep fryers and tiki torches) must be used per manufacturer standards.

  • Approved fire ban system activities

    See what kind of activities you can do during different levels of fire restrictions.

    Fire ban system approved activities list

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