Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development has a tiered fire ban system restricting activities that may cause wildfires in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) of Alberta. Fire bans, fire restrictions, OHV restrictions and fire advisories have proven to be effective prevention tools in reducing 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.
Alberta Fire Bans
The Alberta Fire Bans website is a single portal to all active fire advisories, fire restrictions and fire bans across the province. Planning to enjoy a campfire? Before you head out, please check the website for the latest fire ban information.
Alberta Fire Ban System Approved Activities
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Fire Advisory
Fire Advisory: The fire danger rating has increased. Fire permits may be restricted. Safe campfires are allowed in campgrounds and backcountry or random camping areas, but this level is a warning they may be restricted if the situation doesn’t improve.
|
Activity
|
Restriction level
|
|
Fire Permits
|
May be restricted or suspended
|
Safe wood campfires1 on public lands |
Allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 in a designated campground2 |
Allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 on private land |
Allowed |
Safe wood campfire1 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 fire3
|
Allowed
|
| Open flame oil devices4 |
Allowed |
-
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 fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving
- have enough water on site to extinguish the fire.
Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas. Please note - Municipalities, campgrounds, and parks (federal and provincial), may have additional fire safety requirements.
- A designated campground includes campgrounds on private and public land provided the occupant has their safe wood campfires1 in a permanently installed engineered fire ring.
- 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.
- An off-highway vehicle (OHV) is defined in section 117 of the Traffic Safety Act.
Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices/appliances and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices/appliances will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device/appliance starts a wildfire.
This document is for reference only. If there is a discrepancy between this document and a Ministerial Order, the details of the Ministerial Order are to be followed.
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Fire Restriction
Fire Restriction: 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.
If the situation continues to worsen, Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development will put on a fire ban.
Activity |
Restriction level |
Fire Permits |
Restricted or suspended |
Safe wood campfires1 on public lands |
Not allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 in a designated campground2 |
Allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 on private land |
Allowed |
Safe wood campfire1 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 fire3 |
Allowed |
| Open flame oil devices4 |
Allowed |
- 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 fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving
- have enough water on site to extinguish the fire.
Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas. Please note - Municipalities, campgrounds, and parks (federal and provincial), may have additional fire safety requirements.
- A designated campground includes campgrounds on private and public land provided the occupant has their safe wood campfires1 in a permanently installed engineered fire ring.
- 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.
- An off-highway vehicle (OHV) is defined in section 117 of the Traffic Safety Act.
Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices/appliances and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices/appliances will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device/appliance starts a wildfire.
This document is for reference only. If there is a discrepancy between this document and a Ministerial Order, the details of the Ministerial Order are to be followed. |
Fire Ban
Fire Ban: 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 campfires1 on public lands |
Not allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 in a designated campground2 |
Not allowed |
Safe wood campfires1 on private land |
Not allowed |
Safe wood campfire1 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 fire3 |
Allowed |
| Open flame oil devices4 |
Allowed |
- 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 fire under control at all times and extinguish before leaving
- have enough water on site to extinguish the fire.
Safe wood campfires on private lands include private land campgrounds and private land recreation areas. Please note - Municipalities, campgrounds, and parks (federal and provincial), may have additional fire safety requirements.
- A designated campground includes campgrounds on private and public land provided the occupant has their safe wood campfires1 in a permanently installed engineered fire ring.
- 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.
- An off-highway vehicle (OHV) is defined in section 117 of the Traffic Safety Act.
Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices/appliances and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices/appliances will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device/appliance starts a wildfire.
This document is for reference only. If there is a discrepancy between this document and a Ministerial Order, the details of the Ministerial Order are to be followed. |
Off-Highway Vehicle Restriction
An OHV restriction prohibits the use of off-highway vehicles on public lands including designated OHV trails. An off-highway vehicle 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 and snowmobiles.
Forest Closure
Forest Closure: The fire danger has reached such extreme levels that portions of the forest are closed and no access is permitted for public safety concerns. Access will only be granted by permit for those required to enter those specified lands.
Jurisdiction
Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development is the wildfire authority (under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act) in the FPA of Alberta. Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development manages and responds to all wildfires in this area and is responsible for issuing permits and putting on fire bans.
Even if they are within the FPA, any city, town, village or summer village has the authority to put on their own fire bans as they are outside Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development’s jurisdiction.
Ministerial Orders
During times of high wildfire hazard, the province may use a ministerial order to issue a fire restriction, fire ban OHV restriction or forest closure within the Forest Protection Area. This is a temporary law put in place to lower the risk of human-caused wildfires when the hazard is high. Check below for a list of past and present orders related to Forestry Division activities.
Updated: May 17, 2022