In national and provincial parks, use designated fire pits only
Parks Canada is explicit: campfires are only allowed in designated fire pits at Parks Canada locations. The same rule applies in most provincial,...
Parks Canada is explicit: campfires are only allowed in designated fire pits at Parks Canada locations. The same rule applies in most provincial, state and national parks and recreation sites across the West — in the US, the National Park Service and Forest Service restrict fires to designated rings as well. A designated pit has been chosen for clearance from trees, drainage and ember containment — building your own ring on bare ground in a park is both unsafe and illegal. Before lighting, check whether the park has an active fire ban; many parks suspend campfires entirely during high-risk periods regardless of provincial-level restrictions. Keep fires small, never leave them unattended even for a few minutes, and have water and a shovel within arm’s reach the entire time. Buy firewood at or near the park rather than transporting it long distances — moving firewood across regions is a major vector for invasive insects and tree diseases. When you leave the site, the fire must be out cold, not just smoking lightly. Soak it, stir it, soak it again, and confirm the ashes are cool to the touch before you walk away.
Parks Canada bans new fire rings entirely — campfires must be inside an existing designated pit, even in undeveloped backcountry sites unless explicitly permitted.
Source: Parks Canada — Campfires
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
See live fires, evacuation alerts, air quality, and road closures for Western Canada and 18 western US states on our free live map, then run through the preparedness checklists before fire season.
This is the same wildfire safety library that lives inside our free app. Browse it all in the safety library.