B.C. issued 98 illegal-campfire tickets during 2026 wildfire season
British Columbia issued 98 tickets for illegal campfires between July 1 and Sept. 9, including 17 during a two-week state of emergency. The data highlights enforcement during a period when wildfire risk was elevated.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Event timeline1 Jul → 27 Jul
Dates stated in the reported details, separate from article publication times.
- 1 Jul
Ministry of Environment and Parks data provided to the Investigative Journalism Foundation shows that 98 tickets were issued for illegal campfires from July 1 to Sept.
[1][2] · Reported detail - 27 Jul
Ticketing peaked at 27 during July 27-Aug.
[1][2] · Reported detail
How the effects could reach youConditional effects
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: The tickets were issued between July 1 and Sept. 9, 2026. [1][2]
What happened
The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks data provided to the Investigative Journalism Foundation shows that 98 tickets were issued for illegal campfires from July 1 to Sept. 9, 2026. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasonthefreepress.ca · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasoncranbrooktownsman.com · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
During Aug. 13-26, when British Columbia was under a state of emergency, authorities issued 17 tickets. Three were in the recently fire-stricken Okanagan region, in Kelowna, Vernon and Kaleden. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasonthefreepress.ca · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasoncranbrooktownsman.com · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
The province’s data does not provide the exact dates, locations or other details of the fires associated with the tickets. The three Okanagan fines were each $1,150. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasonthefreepress.ca · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasoncranbrooktownsman.com · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
Ticketing peaked at 27 during July 27-Aug. 5. A provincial spokesperson identified Squamish as the summer hot spot, with 32 tickets issued there. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasonthefreepress.ca · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
- 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasoncranbrooktownsman.com · Article published: Oct 13, 2026, 10:21 PM UTC
Context from the sources
The data covers enforcement during the 2026 summer season; comparable 2025 information was requested but was not provided in full. [1][2]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
1 of these links repeat a headline already present, allowing for punctuation and publisher branding. Repeated wording is not additional confirmation.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [2] 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasoncranbrooktownsman.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 4
- [1] 98 illegal campfire tickets issued during B.C. wildfire seasonthefreepress.caReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2, detail 3, detail 4
Questions answered by the reporting
What this could mean for you
Campfire-related ignition risk can increase during dry or emergency conditions.
An illegal open flame can ignite vegetation when authorities have imposed restrictions because wildfire danger is elevated.
Reported basis: [1][2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: The fire is lit during a period of dry conditions or active campfire restrictions.
Possible time frame: days, if those conditions hold.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
Choose a country to check how this event could affect you.
What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
A further period of emergency-level wildfire danger combined with continued illegal fires.
Pressure eases if…
Compliance with campfire restrictions during high-risk periods.
Still unclear
The provincial data does not identify whether any of the ticketed campfires caused fires or property damage.
Comparable, complete 2025 ticket data is unavailable in the reporting.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Published 4:21 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026 At the peak of B.C.’s wildfire season, dozens of people were caught having illegal campfires, including in areas…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
Published 4:21 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026 At the peak of B.C.’s wildfire season, dozens of people were caught having illegal campfires, including in areas…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
First tracked by DoomRadar: . AI-assisted analysis · . Based on linked headlines and available excerpts. Methodology · Report an error.