Current open outdoor burning conditions
October 3 - Effective Friday, October 4 at 12:00 p.m. (noon), restrictions for open burning in the Central Okanagan will be lifted and permits will be available for eligible property owners from their local fire service. Permit holders can burn outdoors on days when both air quality and venting indices are good.
Residents with a valid burning permit and meeting all requirements of the BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation are required to check the air quality/venting conditions on the day they want to burn. Conditions are updated daily at approximately 8 a.m. The conditions can be accessed by calling the Outdoor Burning Hotline 1-855-262-2876.
During burning season (October 1 to April 30 depending on fire hazard), our online burning tool shows three different colours, each associated with a different burn status:
- Green - Burning is permitted. Follow open burning best practices.
- Yellow - Burning is not permitted. Data may not be available.
- Red - Burning is not permitted. Check alternatives to burning.
The venting index and particulate matter data are retrieved daily before 8 a.m. If information is not available, the system won't have complete information to display an automatic message, and residents must contact the Outdoor Burning Hotline 1-855-262-2876.
Check conditions before you burn
After you have obtained an open burning permit meeting all local government bylaw requirements AND meet all requirements of the BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, you must ensure that burning is allowed on the day you want to burn. Call the outdoor burning hotline at 1-855-262-2876 to check the Venting Index and Air Quality on the day you plan to burn. Listen to the message to confirm that burning is permitted on that day.
In the Central Okanagan, open burning is only permitted when the venting index is 65 or greater, and particulate matter (PM2.5 – 24 hr) concentration is less than 15 µg/m3.
- The venting index (VI) is an estimate made by the Province of how well smoke will be carried away from the surface. It’s a measure of atmospheric turbulence and low level winds and has little to do with the way a plume behaves near the ground.
- VI has nothing to do with good weather. Clear and cold winter days are usually poor venting days.
Anyone caught burning without a local Burning Permit or breaking the rules of their permit may be subject to fines up to $2,000 or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire by their fire service.
When is open outdoor burning season? |
October 1 to April 30 unless stated otherwise. |
Open burning season and provincial regulations |
Under RDCO Bylaw No. 773 and Fire prevention and regulations | Bylaw No. 1066 and local fire prevention bylaws in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, open burning requires a valid permit from a local fire jurisdiction and is only allowed between October 1 and April 30 unless further restrictions are in place due to fire hazards or other local conditions. In addition, the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation is in place by the BC Ministry of Environment. See the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Factsheet - Burning in a High Smoke Sensitivity Zone. If using an Air Curtain incinerator, contact your local fire department to get a permit and check the OBSCR Factsheet – Air Curtain Incinerators. Before lighting any open burn pile, in addition to any local fire permit and bylaws, eligible property owners are also responsible for ensuring compliance with this BC regulation. |
Provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation |
The BC Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation divides the province into three smoke sensitivity zones: high, medium and low zones. The Central Okanagan region is within the “high sensitivity zone” and many requirements apply. See the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Factsheet - Burning in a High Smoke Sensitivity Zone. These include, but aren't limited to:
Property owners are responsible for meeting provincial requirements and should email the OBSCR directly for more information. Non-compliance to requirements of the provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation that exceed local bylaws will be enforced by the province and are stricter than local bylaws. Enforcement by the province is managed via reporting to the provincial Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline 1-877-952-7277. If the situation is not an emergency, report the incident online to RAPP or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Services. |
How do I get a fire burning permit for Central Okanagan? |
Our local fire departments issue burning permits. If necessary, each department enforces its own bylaw regulations. Residents that have properties greater than 1 hectare (2.47 acres) can apply for a permit through their local fire department jurisdiction:
Central Okanagan residents with questions about the burn process permit should contact their local fire department. |
Alternatives to open burning |
There are a number of alternatives to open burning. All residents, farmers and orchardists are encouraged to take advantage of other options such as chipping, flail mowing, or air curtain burning to help reduce smoke pollution in the Central Okanagan. Alternatives
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Best practices |
After you have considered alternatives to burning to minimize the amount of wood to be burned, have applied for and received a valid open burning permit, please follow these Open Burning Best Practices and check out the Clean Air Alternatives to Open Burning. Some best practices include:
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Illegal materials |
It is illegal to burn prohibited materials, including, but not limited to:
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Campfires, residential fire pits and other outdoor wood burning appliances |
Unless a prohibition is in place, small campfires are permitted within the RDCO fire service areas in Ellison, Joe Rich, North Westside and Wilson's Landing as well as by the City of West Kelowna, District of Lake Country and District of Peachland. Check with your local fire department for any additional regulations, permits or fire bans. Campfires and outdoor wood burning appliances are not permitted in the City of Kelowna, including fire pits, woodstoves, chimneys, and other appliances unless conditions are met as outlined in Bylaw 10760. You can use an outdoor appliance in the City of Kelowna if the appliance is CSA/ULC, CGA approved (or equivalent) and is fueled by natural gas, propane, gel or charcoal.
Different restrictions are in place for other municipalities in the Central Okanagan, so please check your local bylaws. If you are uncertain or have questions, please speak with your local fire department to see if campfires or wood burning appliances are allowed and if permits/special conditions are required.
In order to prevent health issues or any other problems, it is recommended that campfires should be avoided during poor air quality conditions. This is when:
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What's the difference between campfires and open burning? |
Campfires are not considered part of open outdoor burning. Campfires are generally small in size and used solely for cooking, lighting or warmth in a camping or recreational setting. Open outdoor burning requires a permit and is for disposal of large permitted vegetative wood debris. |
Open burning complaints/illegal burning |
If you suspect someone is burning without a permit or the specific local fire and smoke control requirements are not met, call the regional fire dispatch 250-469-8577 immediately. Anyone burning without a local burning permit or breaking the rules of their permit may be subject to fines up to $2,000 or be charged with the cost of putting out the fire by their fire service. |
Questions? |
Please contact the Regional Air Quality Coordinator Phone: 250-469-8408
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Contact us
Fire Services
1450 KLO Road
Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4
Phone 250-469-6223
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