Fire advisory, restriction, ban — they are not the same
Fire-status terminology is precise and changes what you can legally do. In Alberta, a Fire Advisory is the lowest level — permits may be restricted...
Fire-status terminology is precise and changes what you can legally do. In Alberta, a Fire Advisory is the lowest level — permits may be restricted but campfires are usually still permitted. A Fire Restriction prohibits wood campfires on public land but allows them inside designated campgrounds and on private property. A Fire Ban is the highest standard level — it stops all wood fires including campground rings and backyard fire pits. An OHV Restriction is independent of fire bans; it limits motorised off-highway vehicles on public land. A Forest Closure removes public access to a defined area entirely. BC uses different language built around four open-fire categories (1 through 4), with Category 1 covering campfires up to 0.5 by 0.5 metres. In the US, states and federal land managers post Stage 1 and Stage 2 fire restrictions instead — check InciWeb or the state forestry or land-management agency. In both provinces, the levels can stack — for example, Alberta can have a Fire Restriction and an OHV Restriction at the same time. When in doubt, default to the strictest reading: pack a propane stove, leave the wood for next trip, and check the official map again the morning you head out.
A Fire Restriction in Alberta still allows campfires inside designated campgrounds — but a Fire Ban does not, and that single word changes what is legal in your campsite.
Source: Alberta — Fire Bans
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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