BCWS off-road vehicle bans: what changed on Crown land this week
BC Wildfire Service posted a set of August 10 off-road vehicle prohibitions covering recreational ORV use on Crown land in several B.C. fire-centre areas. The practical takeaway: check the official prohibition maps before riding, and do not treat social posts as the final word on where travel is allowed.
What changed
BCWS says the restrictions target recreational off-road vehicle operation on Crown land. Across the notices, BCWS says the decision is being made because of the scope and scale of fires currently burning in B.C. and elevated danger ratings in many southern regions.
| Area / notice | Effective period stated by BCWS | Key point for readers |
|---|---|---|
| Kamloops Fire Centre | Noon PDT August 10, 2026 to noon PDT October 9, 2026, unless rescinded | Recreational ORVs prohibited on Crown land throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. |
| Southeast Fire Centre | Noon PT August 10, 2026 to noon PT October 9, 2026, unless rescinded | Applies throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, including the Rocky Mountain and Selkirk natural resource districts. |
| Parts of Coastal Fire Centre | August 10, 2026 to noon PT October 9, 2026, unless rescinded | Applies in parts of the Coastal Fire Centre; BCWS also lists several areas where ORVs remain permitted. |
| Cariboo / 100 Mile House notice | August 10, 2026 to noon PT October 9, 2026, unless rescinded | BCWS says the prohibition applies on Crown land throughout the 100 Mile House Forest District. |
What vehicles and uses are covered?
The BCWS notices point to recreational off-road vehicle use. The posts list examples including all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road side-by-side vehicles. They also state that on-highway vehicles must remain on road surfaces as defined in the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
The notices say the prohibition does not apply to private lands or national parks. They also list exceptions for emergency response, agriculture, commercial/industrial users operating off-road vehicles for farming or business purposes, and customers who remain in the presence of a commercial/industrial ORV user operating for business.
What this does not mean
- It is not a blanket statement that every road, trail or region has the same rule; use the official BCWS maps and current prohibition page.
- It is not an evacuation order. Evacuation orders and alerts are issued through EmergencyInfoBC and local/regional emergency authorities.
- It is not a road-closure notice. Check DriveBC before travel, especially around active fires, smoke and detours.
Reader checklist
- Before riding or travelling on Crown land, open the official B.C. fire prohibitions and restrictions page and the linked BCWS maps.
- For evacuation orders/alerts, use EmergencyInfoBC and the affected local government or regional district.
- For roads and detours, check DriveBC.
- To report an ORV prohibition violation, BCWS directs people to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 or the online reporting service.
- To report smoke, flame or a new wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellphone.