Alberta uses five restriction levels — know which one applies
Alberta organises fire restrictions in the Forest Protection Area into a tiered system, and each level changes what you can do. A Fire Advisory means...
Alberta organises fire restrictions in the Forest Protection Area into a tiered system, and each level changes what you can do. A Fire Advisory means permits may be restricted but safe campfires are still allowed in most settings. A Fire Restriction prohibits wood campfires on public land but lets them continue inside designated campgrounds and on private property. A Fire Ban is the strongest level — it prohibits wood campfires everywhere, including campgrounds and backyard fire pits. An OHV Restriction stops motorised off-highway vehicles from operating on public lands, regardless of whether fires are allowed. A Forest Closure shuts public access to a defined area entirely. The level can change daily, and can differ between forest areas inside the same province. Always confirm the current level for your specific destination at alberta.ca/fire-bans or albertafirebans.ca before you light anything. The terminology is not just bureaucratic — under a Fire Ban, even your backyard fire pit is illegal, and during an OHV Restriction your dirt bike or quad must stay parked even if you planned a forest ride.
Under an Alberta Fire Ban, even backyard fire pits on private land are illegal — the level above just a campground restriction shuts down all wood fires province-wide.
Source: Alberta — Fire Bans
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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