Backyard burning is now banned across Salt Spring Island as the local fire hazard rating sits at high on June 16, 2026, with Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue warning conditions could worsen. Campfires are still allowed but only with a valid permit, while incinerators and machine pile burns are also off limits.
The fire department posted the updated restrictions on its burn restrictions page, noting the current high hazard means an early shift and two-hour fire watch are in effect. After three consecutive days at high, all high-risk activities must stop by 1:00 p.m. If the rating reaches extreme and stays there for three consecutive days, all high-risk activities must cease entirely, and burning restrictions would tighten further — during past extreme events, even campfires have been banned.
This is the second big move this season. All open fires were banned on the island starting May 7 at noon. Fire Chief Jamie Holmes has said the district follows guidance from the BC Wildfire Service, whose spring outlook points to moderate drought in parts of the province and record low snow at valley bottoms. A separate federal forecast warns of above-normal temperatures for almost all of Canada through August. Those conditions make early-season grass fires more likely and keep the wildfire risk high across British Columbia.
The tighter rules come as the region sharpens its emergency readiness. Last June, Emergency Management Salt Spring Island ran a large wildfire evacuation exercise called Smoke Show, with nine different agencies practicing how to move people out fast if a fire spreads quickly. That kind of training matters on an island where homes sit close to forests and water for firefighting can be limited.
Residents should be extra careful with anything that could spark a flame, including smoking materials and outdoor equipment. Anyone who ignores the open-burning ban can be hit with a $1,150 ticket, an administrative penalty up to $10,000, or if taken to court, a fine as high as $100,000 and up to a year in jail. To report a wildfire, call 911. The Ganges Fire Hall can be reached at 250-537-2531.
