Provincial News Release: Temporary Backcountry Recreational Vehicle Ban
By Tasha
Posted on
Temp Backcountry Rec Vehicle Ban
🚨 Temporary Backcountry Off-Road Vehicle Ban in Effect 🚨
Due to extreme wildfire conditions, the Province of B.C. has temporarily prohibited recreational off-road vehicle use on Crown land in the Southeast Fire Centre and other affected regions.
Effective noon on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, recreational off-road vehicle use on Crown land is temporarily prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, Kamloops Fire Centre, and selected areas of the Cariboo and Coastal Fire Centres.
This measure has been implemented to help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during the current period of extreme fire danger and dry conditions.
The restriction applies to recreational use of ATVs, dirt bikes and side-by-side vehicles, but does not apply to private land, national parks, emergency responders, agricultural operations or commercial users.
With August typically being the most active wildfire month, residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to stay out of the backcountry in affected areas. Anyone found violating the prohibition may face fines of up to $1,150, and those responsible for causing a wildfire may be liable for all firefighting costs.
