Emergency Program

Campfire Bans Lifted in Most Strathcona Regional District Areas

Notice level: Low
Updated:

The Coastal Fire Centre is lifting its campfire ban, and several local fire service areas within the Strathcona Regional District are following suit due to changing weather conditions and a reduction in wildfire risk.

Effective 12:00 pm on Friday, May 15, 2026, campfires will once again be permitted in the following areas:

  • All of Electoral Area A (Kyuquot/Nootka–Sayward)
  • All of Electoral Area B (Cortes Island)
  • All of Electoral Area C (Quadra & Discovery Islands)
    • Please note: beach fires remain prohibited year-round within the South Quadra Island Improvement District.
  • All of Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay / Buttle Lake), except within the Black Creek / Oyster Bay Fire Protection Local Area, which is the area serviced by the Oyster River Fire Department (ORFD) - see ORFD service area map>.
  • City of Campbell River
  • Village of Sayward
  • Village of Tahsis
  •  Village of Zeballos

Campfires, backyard fires, and beach fires will remain prohibited in the following areas:

  • Black Creek / Oyster Bay Fire Protection Local Area, which is the area serviced by the Oyster River Fire Department (ORFD) - see ORFD service area map>
  • Village of Gold River
  • South Quadra Island Improvement District (beach fires remain prohibited)

Please note that Category 2 and Category 3 fires — any fire larger than 0.5 metres by 0.5 metres — remain prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction.

Although the campfire ban has been lifted in many areas, residents are encouraged to continue exercising caution and diligence when using campfires. Fires should never be left unattended, and anyone lighting a fire must have appropriate tools or water available to fully extinguish it.

Residents should always check current local and provincial fire restrictions before lighting any fire.

To stay informed, learn more about fire restrictions, or determine which fire protection area you reside in, please visit: www.srd.ca/fire-protection.

History

The Strathcona Emergency Program service was established by SRD Bylaw 275, the “Strathcona Emergency Program”, for the purpose of establishing and operating an emergency preparedness plan for Electoral Area 'A' (Sayward — Kyuquot/Nootka), Electoral Area 'B' (Cortes), Electoral Area 'C' (Discovery Islands — Mainland Inlets), Electoral 'D' (Oyster Bay/Buttle Lake), the City of Campbell River, the Village of Gold River, the Village of Sayward, the Village of Tahsis, and the Village of Zeballos.

The emergency preparedness service for the area covered by the Strathcona Regional District was established in 2005 while the area was still part of the Comox-Strathcona Regional District. Following the creation of the Strathcona Regional District as a separate entity, an amendment bylaw was adopted in early 2010, which updated geographical references and the cost sharing formula for service participants. 

What we do

This service works to support fire safety and emergency management, which are critical functions of local government. The SRD administers fire protection services for the Sayward Fire Service Area as the authority-having-jurisdiction of the Sayward Fire & Rescue Department. We also provide fire services to Electoral Area B (Cortes Island) and a portion of Electoral Area D (Oyster Bay / Buttle Lake) through contractual relationships with the Cortes Island Firefighters Association and the City of Campbell River.

Emergency Services is responsible for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts within the Electoral Areas of Regional District and provides emergency management coordination, leadership and support to member municipalities and First Nations. The success of the Strathcona Emergency Program is due in large part to the many Public Safety Lifeline Volunteers who donate their skills and time toward emergency preparedness and response activities.

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