Union Bay / Fanny Bay Fire Rescue

OPEN BURNING BAN

Effective Noon Thursday May 7, 2026

Due to an increased risk of wildfire, all open burning is hereby prohibited within the Union Bay and Fanny Bay Fire Protection Areas  as of Noon Thursday May 7, 2026 until further notice.

This ban includes:

“Category 1 open fire” which means a campfire that is:

1. No larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide,
2. Used for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for ceremonial purposes.

“Category 2 open fire” which means an open fire, other than a category 1 campfire, that burns:

1. Material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
2. Material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width, or
3. Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha.

“Category 3 open fire” which means an open fire that burns:

1. Material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width,
2. Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width,
3. One or more windrows, each not exceeding 200 m in length or 15 m in width,
4. Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha.

Also prohibited are the activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):

1. Fireworks; as defined in the Fireworks Act;
2. Binary exploding targets;
3. Sky Lanterns
4. Wood fired hot tubs, wood fired pizza ovens and other wood fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building;
5. Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description;
6. Controlled air incinerators
7. Air curtain burners; and Carbonizers.

Violations of this ban may result in fines and/or charges.

Please do your part to protect our community and natural surroundings. Check for updates on our website or contact us directly for more information.

Firesmart Spring Newsletter, 2026 

Click here to view the Newsletter (PDF)

Or view online here

Help us help you by marking your property with a reflective address sign

Union Bay / Fanny Bay Fire Rescue is asking residents to help make their homes easy to find.

To aid with address identification, the department is excited to announce the launch of a new Reflective Address Sign program.

In an emergency, every second counts. A few minutes may be too late in a medical emergency or fire. The quicker the Department can reach your home in a crisis, the faster they can help. After nightfall or in adverse weather conditions, it can be challenging to identify a house or locate a particular driveway, especially in rural areas.

To make your home easier to find, Union Bay / Fanny Bay Fire Rescue is asking that you participate in the Reflective Address Sign program. The Program provides a prominent way of displaying your home address and helps our emergency personnel deliver the assistance needed quickly during an emergency. Used in many municipalities, these blue and white reflective markers are all the same colour and shape and are easier to see by approaching emergency responders during night hours or bad weather conditions.

Union Bay / Fanny Bay Fire Rescue will be contributing to the cost of the signs to support community participation. Residents can order a sign for $20. Signs can be paid for in advance at Union Bay Fire Hall, located at 5471 Island Hwy S Monday to Thursday, or upon delivery if ordered via email or phone. When you order a sign, a firefighter could come to your home to determine the marker’s best location if needed.

To order,

• drop into the Union Bay Fire Hall (call-in advance to ensure the office is open)
• email 250Sign@gmail.com
• call 250 444-SIGN (7446)
• signup at Union Bay Firehall during the pancake breakfast Oct 6, 9am – 12pm.

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