Fire Prevention

Campfire Season is Here

Campfires are governed by the Fire Services Bylaw and the Good Neighbour Bylaw. These bylaws play a role in our community to ensure that everyone may enjoy a safe campfire experience, without adversely affecting the health of the community, or the ability for their neighbours to continue to enjoy their own properties.

Fire Interface Zone Map

Campfires or fire appliances are allowed as long as they meet bylaw requirements:

Zone 1 - No person shall situate a camp fire or outdoor fireplace less than 3m from any combustible materials, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy fields or from property boundary. Campfires must be contained and will not exceed 1m in diameter (3ft) and 1m in height (3ft).

Zone 2 and 3 - No person shall situate a campfire or outdoor fireplace 5m from any combustible materials, including but not limited to buildings, sheds, shrubs, grassy fields or from property boundary. Campfires are required to be enclosed by rock, concrete, ceramic clay or metal container no greater than 0.6m (2ft) wide and no less than 0.6m (2ft) in height and require a spark guard.

Fires must be tended to at all times by a person with the resources to extinguish the fire immediately upon order from a Bylaw or Fire Officer or in case of emergency.

Do not burn or ignite when:

Air Quality Health Index is greater than 3
Ventilation Index is less than 55
Conditions are hazardous or a fire ban is in place.

This applies to all campfires and outdoor fireplaces.

What can I burn?

Only dry, seasoned wood or charcoal briquettes.

Campfires are permitted for the purpose of cooking or recreation.

Never burn yard waste, garbage or any other materials that omit opaque, or dense smoke or noxious odours.

Outdoor Burning Appliance and Portable Campfire Apparatus – CSA or ULC rated devices that use briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel are permitted as long as used in a safe manner and in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.

Smoke Nuisances

In order to ensure a happy campfire experience for all concerned, the City has enacted smoke nuisance regulations contained in the Good Neighbour Bylaw. These regulations apply to campfires and fire appliances and ensure that no fires produce opaque or dense smoke which may affect the surrounding neighbours.

These regulations restrict fires omitting opaque, or dense smoke or noxious odours and allow Bylaw or Fire Officers may order fires to be extinguished. Progressive enforcement may occur.

More Fire & Safety links

As per section 5.6 of Fire Services Bylaw #5635 a burning permit is required for open burning.
Completed applications must be reviewed by the Fire Chief or designate prior to payment.
- Open burning permits will only be issued between November 1 and April 30 and can be cancelled during a fireban.
- Permits will only be issued for open burning authorized by the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR).
- You can view the OBSCR factsheet here.
Burning Permit Application Form
If you have any questions regarding burning permits please contact 250-542-5361.
The Good Neighbour Bylaw #4980 defines "Campfire" as a contained outdoor fire used for cooking or recreation, not exceeding one meter in diameter (3 ft.) and one meter (3 ft.) in height in Interface Zone 1, or not exceeding 0.60 meters (2 ft.) and 0.60 meters (2 ft) in height in Interface Zone 2 or Interface Zone 3.
Fire Interface Zone Map
No person shall light a campfire or outdoor fireplace, or permit a campfire or outdoor fireplace to burn when;
a) the Air Quality Health Index is greater than 3, or
b) the Ventilation Index is greater than 55, or
c) condition are hazardous, or
d) a fire ban is in place.
Environment Canada (venting index) Phone: 1-888-281-2992
Good Neighbour Bylaw
Fire Services Bylaw
Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Factsheet
- Building Owner's Responsibilities for Fire Safety Equipment
- Carbon Monoxide Safety - Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.
  https://www.nfpa.org/
- Fire Safety for Kids
  www.sparky.org/
  www.firefacts.org/
  www.safekids.org/fire
- Fire Prevention Officers Association of B.C.
  www.fpoa.bc.ca/
- BC Office of the Fire Commissioner
  http://www2.gov.bc.ca/
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  www.nfpa.org/safety-information
- Canadian Safety Council
  canadasafetycouncil.org
  canadasafetycouncil.org/campaigns/fire_safety
- BC Wildfire Prevention
  bcwildfire.ca/prevention/
- BC Wildfire Provincial fire bans
  bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp
- Ministry ot Environment and Climate Change Strategy
  Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation Factsheet
- BC Fire Code
  bccodes.ca/fire-code.aspx
- BC Building Code
  www.bccodes.ca
  housing.gov.bc.ca/building/code_questions/index.htm
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  www.nfpa.org/freeaccess
Lock Boxes provide building owners and residents certainty that their building can be accessed by the fire department.
- The property owner is responsible for the ordering and cost of the lock box.
- The lock box will be mailed to the owner and the lid will be mailed to the fire department.
- The fire department will install the lid once the owner has installed the lock box at the main entrance to the property.
Lock Box Order Form
For lid installation or more information please contact the Fire Prevention Officer at dwalker@vernon.ca
As per section 5.11 of Fire Services Bylaw #5635, mobile caterers conducting business within the City and utilizing commercial cooking equipment, that creates grease laden vapours in a confined compartment, must maintain and operate exhaust and hood systems that comply with Article 2.6.1.9 of the BC Fire Code.
An appointment is required to have your mobile catering equipment inspected, this can be arranged by completing the form below. Inspections are subject to a $50 fee, as per Bylaw #5804
MOBILE VENDOR INSPECTION REQUEST