# Source note — BCWS off-road vehicle prohibitions, August 2026

- Article: https://bcfires.com/blog/bcws-off-road-vehicle-prohibitions-august-2026.html
- Published: 2026-08-11
- Editorial label: official-source prevention / restrictions update
- Decision: publishable. The core facts come from four BC Wildfire Service official posts and the B.C. government prohibitions page. No social-media allegation, named suspect, or unverified cause claim is used.

## Verified official anchors

1. **Kamloops Fire Centre** — BCWS says recreational off-road vehicles are prohibited on Crown land throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre effective noon PDT August 10, 2026, until noon PDT October 9, 2026, unless rescinded.
2. **Southeast Fire Centre** — BCWS says the prohibition applies throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, including the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and Selkirk Natural Resource District, effective noon PT August 10 to noon PT October 9 unless rescinded.
3. **Coastal Fire Centre** — BCWS says the prohibition applies in parts of the Coastal Fire Centre effective August 10 to noon PT October 9 unless rescinded, with named exceptions for North Island / Mid Coast, Mid Island, Sunshine Coast and several listed forest districts/regions.
4. **Cariboo / 100 Mile House** — BCWS says recreational ORVs are prohibited on Crown land throughout the 100 Mile House Forest District effective August 10 to noon PT October 9 unless rescinded.

## Common wording across the BCWS posts

- Reason given: scope and scale of fires currently burning in B.C. and elevated danger ratings in many southern regions.
- Applies to recreational ORV operation on Crown land; on-highway vehicles must remain on road surfaces as defined in the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation.
- ORV examples listed: all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-road side-by-side vehicles.
- Exceptions: private lands, national parks, emergency response, agriculture, commercial/industrial users operating ORVs for farming or business purposes, and customers who remain in the presence of a commercial/industrial ORV user operating for business.
- Report ORV violations: RAPP line 1-877-952-7277 or the online reporting service.
- Report wildfire: 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone; BC Wildfire app reporting is also referenced by BCWS.

## Reader caution

This article is a restrictions/prevention update, not an evacuation order. Evacuation orders/alerts and road closures change quickly; use EmergencyInfoBC, local/regional emergency pages, BC Wildfire Service and DriveBC for current instructions.