Do not use signal flares or fireworks during fire season
Standard automotive signal flares burn at over 1,400°C and throw molten material onto the road and shoulder when used. During fire season they are a...
Standard automotive signal flares burn at over 1,400°C and throw molten material onto the road and shoulder when used. During fire season they are a known wildfire ignition source and should not be used as a roadside warning signal. Use battery-powered LED triangles or warning lights instead — they are non-incendiary, reusable, last for hours, and visible from a distance. The same caution applies to recreational fireworks and Chinese sky lanterns; both are restricted under fire bans and restrictions across the West and have caused major wildfires throughout the region. If your vehicle becomes disabled in a fire-affected area, set up reflective triangles or LED warning markers, turn on hazard lights, and call for assistance. If you must communicate distress and have no electronic option, a horn (three short bursts) and a bright cloth tied to your antenna are far safer than a flare. Carrying flares in your vehicle during a high-level fire prohibition or restriction may itself be a violation.
A standard road flare burns at over 1,400 °C — hot enough to ignite dry grass through pavement cracks — which is why LED warning triangles are the fire-season default.
Source: BC — Fire Prohibitions and Restrictions
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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