Campfire Ban Effective July 16 2026

CAMPFIRE BAN – EFFECTIVE JULY 16 🔥
Effective at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, July 16, 2026, all Category 1 campfires will be prohibited within the Otter Point area as part of the Coastal Fire Centre’s updated open-fire prohibition.
This ban includes:
Campfires
Beach fires
Category 2 and Category 3 open fires
Fireworks
Binary exploding targets
Burn barrels and burn cages
Controlled-air incinerators, air curtain burners and carbonizers
The prohibition is being implemented to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect public safety as conditions continue to dry.
The ban will remain in effect until October 31, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.
Please help protect our community by respecting the prohibition and reporting any unattended or illegal fires. If you see a fire, call 911.
Thank you for your cooperation

Leadership Transition at the Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department

May 15, 2026

 

For Immediate Release

                                                                                               

Leadership Transition at the Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department

The Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department announces the retirement of Fire Chief John McCrea, effective July 3, 2026, following 31 years of dedicated service to the department and the community of Otter Point.

Chief McCrea began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter and rose through the ranks as Captain, Training Officer, Deputy Chief, and ultimately served two terms as Fire Chief. Throughout his career, he demonstrated unmatched dedication to the fire service, the members of the department, and the residents of Otter Point.

Chief McCrea leaves behind a lasting legacy within the department. His leadership, mentorship, and commitment to training helped build the Otter Point Training Centre into a facility recognized throughout the Province of British Columbia. For more than 20 years, he dedicated countless hours to developing and managing training opportunities that have benefited firefighters from across the region and province.

While retiring from the role of Fire Chief, John is not leaving the department entirely and will continue to support the department and incoming leadership in any way needed. His knowledge, experience, and continued involvement will remain a valued asset to the organization.

The members of the Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department would like to sincerely thank Chief McCrea for his decades of service, leadership, and commitment to the community. We wish him all the best in his retirement and many safe miles ahead riding his Harley.

The department is also pleased to announce that current Deputy Fire Chief Ben Patterson has been appointed as the next Fire Chief and will officially assume the role on July 3, 2026.

Chief Patterson brings 29 years of fire service experience, beginning at the age of 16 as a volunteer firefighter with Sooke Fire Rescue, where he dedicated 21 years of service. He also brings eight years of full-time career experience with the Otter Point Volunteer Fire Department.

Throughout his career, Chief Patterson has demonstrated strong local knowledge, a collaborative leadership approach, and a continued focus on supporting members while serving the Otter Point community. During his time as Deputy Fire Chief, he has been actively involved in department operations, training, incident command, and oversight of facilities and equipment.

Chief Patterson has demonstrated a strong understanding of volunteer fire service delivery, firefighter training standards, and the regulatory framework that guides the fire service, including the Fire Safety Act, WorkSafeBC requirements, and CRD bylaws. His leadership approach emphasizes integrity, accountability, communication, teamwork, firefighter safety, operational effectiveness, and community well-being. He is committed to supporting members while continuing to build on the strengths and traditions of the department.

Please join us in congratulating Chief Patterson on his appointment and in thanking Chief McCrea for his extraordinary service and leadership to the Otter Point community.

Campfires permitted across Coastal Fire Centre due to decreased fire risk

Although Camp Fires will once again be permitted on Friday May 15 at noon, we are strongly recommending that if you chose to have a campfire, that you ensure that it is in a contained pit, and when you are done with the fire make sure it is dead out, cold to the touch. Included with Campfires, Wood Fired Hot tubs, and Pizza oven will be permitted once again.

Effective on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 12 p.m. (noon), the Category 1 campfire prohibition will be rescinded throughout the Coastal Fire Centre. Category 2 and Category 3 open burning will remain prohibited.

 

The Category 1 campfire prohibition was initially implemented due to a combination of elevated wildfire risk factors, including:

  • Prolonged hot and dry conditions;
  • Rising fire weather indices;
  • Elevated incidence of human-caused wildfires; and
  • Early season operational capacity.

 

Current and forecast conditions have since shifted, bringing cooler temperatures, improved humidity values and an overall reduction in wildfire hazard throughout the Coastal Fire Centre. Because of this, Category 1 campfires will be once again permitted under the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction.

 

Anyone choosing to light a Category 1 campfire must do so responsibly and in accordance with Section 20 of the Wildfire Regulation:

  • Do not burn in windy conditions
  • Establish and maintain a fuel break
  • Do not leave the fire unattended
  • Ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving the area
  • Carry out fire control immediately and/or report the fire if it spreads beyond the established fuel break

 

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction in addition to the following activities and equipment:

  • Fireworks (Fireworks Act);
  • Binary exploding targets;
  • Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description;
  • Controlled air incinerators
  • Air curtain burners; and
  • Carbonizers.

 

This prohibition applies to all areas within the Coastal Fire Centre that are outside of municipal boundaries. Municipalities may follow BC Wildfire Service prohibitions or may impose different prohibitions based on conditions in their local area. If you are in a municipality, be sure to check if local prohibitions are in place. If you are within a regional district or improvement district, this prohibition applies as well as any local prohibition issued by the local authority.

 

This prohibition also applies to the following types of land within municipal boundaries:

  • Parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act);
  • Recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act);
  • Ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act);
  • Wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act); and
  • Private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act).

 

An updated map of this prohibition area will be issued soon. For a description of fire centre boundaries, please visit: Fire Centres – BC Wildfire Service

 

For more information on open fires, prohibitions and restrictions, visit: gov.bc.ca/saferburning

 

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 tollfree, *5555 on a cell phone, or submit an electronic report through the BC Wildfire public mobile app.