A forest in front of a mountain range

Protecting Vancouver parks from wildfire starts with prevention

July 21 2025 –

As we enter the hottest, driest days of summer, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is reminding the public of regulations and guidelines to help keep our parks safe. Visitors to our parks and green spaces can play an important role in preventing and detecting wildfires.

How park users can help:

Lit cigarettes and open fires are the biggest causes of fires in parks. Smoking is prohibited in parks and on beaches year-round, as are open fires of any kind.
 
In addition, park users can help prevent fires by following these rules and guidelines:

  • Barbecues must be 75 cm (29.5 in) off the ground and are not permitted on or above sandy beach areas.
  • Charcoal barbecues must be doused with cold water until they are fully extinguished and disposed of properly.
  • Any form of wood burning is prohibited.
  • Use designated picnic sites when possible. Always have a source of water available to extinguish any flare ups.
  • Stay on designated trails at all times.
  • If you spot a fire, smell or see smoke, immediately call 9-1-1 and report your location.

What we do:

The Park Board works closely with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services and Metro Vancouver to monitor and protect Vancouver's urban forest and keep the public updated.

When there is an increase in fire hazard ratings, we post signs at entrances to forested areas and post alerts to the vancouver.ca website, social media and other channels. We also reach out to those sheltering in parks to educate on fire dangers and prevention.

Our operational measures follow or exceed Metro Vancouver’s Wildfire Preparedness and Response  guidance to prevent and prepare for fires in parks, particularly in heavily treed areas. These include:

  • Ensuring fire suppression equipment is at the ready for park operations staff working in Stanley Park.
  • Strategic watering to minimize ignition risk in forested areas in periods of extreme heat, strategic watering to minimize ignition risk this includes spraying/wetting forest edges closest to busy areas and targeting watering of newly replanted forested area.
  • Increased patrols by Park Rangers.
  • Proactive outreach and education on park bylaws related to smoking prohibition, safe use of barbeques and fire prevention.

For guidance on fire safety in parks, visit vancouver.ca/firesafety.