Fire Ban System

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 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.

Forest Protection Area Map - May 3, 2017 (1 page, <1 MB)

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 Bans

Alberta Fire Ban System Approved Activities

2021 Fire Ban System approved activities list

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No Advisory

No Advisory: Fire permits are required during fire season for any type of burning in the FPA, except campfires. Safe campfires are allowed in campgrounds and backcountry or random camping areas.

Activity	Restriction level
Backyard firepits	Allowed
Barbeque - Charcoal briquette	Allowed
Exploding targets	Prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Fire Permits	As issued by a forest officer or fire guardian
Fireworks	Prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Gas and liquid powered appliances (stoves, lanterns, propane fire rings)	Allowed
Indoor wood fire²	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on private land and provincial campgrounds	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on public lands	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. 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. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire.

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
Backyard firepits	Allowed
Barbeque - Charcoal briquette	Allowed
Exploding targets	Prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Fire Permits	May be restricted or suspended
Fireworks	Prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Gas and liquid powered appliances (stoves, lanterns, propane fire rings)	Allowed
Indoor wood fire²	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on private land and provincial campgrounds	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on public lands	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. 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. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire.

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 and Forestry will put on a fire ban.

Activity	Restriction level
Backyard firepits	Allowed
Barbeque - Charcoal briquette	Allowed
Exploding targets	Not allowed
Fire Permits	Restricted, suspended or cancelled
Fireworks	Prohibited without written permission of a Forest Officer
Gas and liquid powered appliances (stoves, lanterns, propane fire rings)	Allowed
Indoor wood fire²	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on private land and provincial campgrounds	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on public lands	Not 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. 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. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire.

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
Backyard firepits	Not allowed
Barbeque - Charcoal briquette	Not allowed
Exploding targets	Not allowed
Fire Permits	Suspended or cancelled
Fireworks	Not allowed
Gas and liquid powered appliances (stoves, lanterns, propane fire rings)	Allowed
Indoor wood fire²	Allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on private land and provincial campgrounds	Not allowed
Safe wood campfires¹ on public lands	Not 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. 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. Users are still responsible for care and attendance of all devices and should reduce their use during fire restrictions and bans. Approved activities or devices will not prevent potential prosecution or litigation if the user or device starts a wildfire.

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.

Alberta fire bans; black level 5, forest area closure

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 and Forestry is the wildfire authority (under the Forest and Prairie Protection Act) in the FPA of Alberta. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 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 and Forestry’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.

Ministerial Orders

Updated: Apr 21, 2021