Banff has a fire ban starting July 30, 2026 at noon, the Town of Banff says. The Banff Fire Department put the ban in place to match Parks Canada’s ban for Banff National Park, and it lasts until further notice.
The ban covers the whole national park, including Lake Louise, all campgrounds, and day-use areas. Parks Canada says the fire danger is extreme, meaning fires can start easily, spread fast, and burn hard. Hot, dry weather is behind this, with temperatures hitting 27 to 29 degrees Celsius and no rain in sight.
You cannot use wood-burning campfires, charcoal or briquette barbecues, outdoor wood stoves, turkey fryers, or tiki torches. Propane or gas appliances with a CSA or UL label are okay if you watch them closely. This includes portable propane fire pits (except in overflow campgrounds), gas stoves and barbecues, and lanterns with an enclosed flame.
If you break the ban in town, you could be fined up to $2,500 under the fire department bylaw. In the national park, fines can go up to $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act. The ban lines up with the August long weekend, a time when Banff often sees more than 30,000 vehicles a day, so officials want everyone to follow the rules.
For the latest updates, check banff.ca/WildfireConditions.
