Emergency Management Of Wildfires

PARKSVILLE – Effective at 12:00 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, May 7, 2026, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with exceptions for Haida Gwaii. This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce human-caused wildfires and for public safety.

Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre's jurisdiction, with the exception that only Category 2 and Category 3 fires will be prohibited in the Haida Gwaii Forest District (Category 1 campfires will be permitted). This prohibition will be in place until October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.

1. The Nuxalk Nation (including Nuxalk Forestry) and the Central Coast Regional District have been working with Forsite Consultants Ltd. to develop a Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan.
2. The Nuxalk Nation and the CCRD are working together to bring FireSmart to the Bella Coola Valley. FireSmart focuses on community education, wildfire risk assessments of community infrastructure, emergency planning, and wildfire resilient landscaping and fuel management. Learn more on the FireSmartBC Website: https://firesmartbc.ca/
3. Wildfire Risk Reduction projects are happening throughout the valley, supported by the Nation, the CCRD, BC Parks, the Ministry of Forests, the Bella Coola Community Forest, and other local contractors, such as Cedar Sky Consulting.