Wildfire season in British Columbia could stretch toward Halloween this year, with campfire bans and other fire prohibitions likely remaining in place until late October as increasingly long fire seasons become the norm, a B.C. Wildfire Service official says.

With hot, dry weather forecast well into August, residents can expect campfire bans and other fire prohibitions to remain in place locally and across much of the province until Oct. 31.

 “You see, especially in the last couple of years, fire season are trending to be longer. You see that activity into October,” said Rick van Kesteren, an information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service.

“The middle, end of October, is definitely when things start to wind down a little bit and you see those prohibitions be rescinded.”

Van Kesteren urged people heading into the backcountry to monitor the B.C. Wildfire Service app for the latest restrictions and updates. He said any changes to campfire prohibitions are posted there.

Last year’s fire season started earlier, with blazes reported in the late spring and unseasonably hot weather and wildfires continue well into September. Van Kesteren said this means people need to take extra care for longer periods of time when out in nature.

He asks outdoor enthusiasts to constantly check for campfire bans and other prohibitions whenever they head into the bush. If someone wants to have a campfire, he recommends using a propane-powered one instead of wood.

“A lot of people like campfires to have warmth or to cook or anything like that. A propane fire pit that is CSA (Canadian Standards Association) or UCA (Urban Conservation Area) approved, those are great alternatives as they don’t have that risk of sparking,” he said.

Anyone who spots a wildfire while outdoors is asked to call call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone, or report it through the B.C. Wildfire Service app. Photos submitted through the app can help crews assess the situation.

Mid-July saw a spike in wildfire activity after a series of lightning storms moved across southern B.C. The storms produced little rain until reaching northern parts of the province. As of press time, 138 fires had been sparked by dry lightning.

Since April 1, the traditional start of the wildfire season, B.C. has recorded 633 wildfires, slightly below the 10-year average of about 700 by this point in the year. About 52,000 hectares have burned, well below the 10-year average of 380,000 hectares. By comparison, roughly 719,000 hectares had burned by the same point last summer.

The province’s wildfire response is increasingly focused on British Columbia’s Central Interior, where crews continue battling several significant blazes. Of particular concern are the out-of-control fires burning near Clinton and 70 Mile House, where evacuation alerts remain in effect and firefighters are working to protect homes and critical infrastructure. While wildfire activity persists across the province, the Cariboo remains one of the busiest regions as crews contend with numerous active fires under challenging conditions.