Open burning season closes April 15 within five RDOS Fire Protection Areas

News Article

INFORMATION RELEASE

Open burning of permitted burning materials closes at midnight on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS). The closure is outlined in Bylaw No. 2898, 2020, a bylaw to regulate open burning within five RDOS Fire Protection Areas of Anarchist, Kaleden, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, and Willowbrook. If your property is located outside the areas listed above, please check with your local authority or the Province of B.C.

Open burning is not permitted from April 15 to October 15 each year. To access the Burn Authorization application, please visit the RDOS website and select Permits & Licences. You can also access the Public Parcel Viewer to view Fire District Boundary locations. Please note that, depending on conditions, the burning season may end earlier at the discretion of the local fire chiefs.

Campfires are permitted after April 15, 2026, subject to Bylaw No. 2898, 2020. A campfire is an open fire that burns wood in one pile not exceeding 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in width, specifically for heating or warmth, cooking, or Indigenous ceremonial purposes. Campfires may be restricted by the fire chief at any time, and the Fire District will abide by a provincial fire ban in the vicinity of the Fire District.

For more information, please review Bylaw No. 2898, 2020 on the RDOS website at rdos.bc.ca.

The use of fireworks shall be in accordance with provincial regulations or Regional District Fireworks Bylaw No. 2854, 2019 for Electoral Areas “D”, “F”, and “I”.

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Mark Pendergraft, Chair
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Contacts:

Tony Iannella
RDOS Protective Services Coordinator
250-689-9545

RDOS Communications
250-490-4148
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737

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