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Outdoor Burning

This page was last reviewed on October 8, 2025.

Air Quality and Reducing the Impact of Burning

Please burn your fire hot and only burn dry materials to help reduce impacts on air quality.

You can check the venting index for Central Vancouver Island for a “good” or “fair” burning day.

Small Recreational Fires (Campfires) in the Village

A permit is required for small recreational fires. Permits are free of charge and are valid for the calendar year. Permits are not valid when there is a burning ban in effect and may be revoked by the Fire Chief.

Small recreational campfires must burn clean dry wood and

  • Be no larger than 0.5m (1.5 ft) in diameter
  • Be contained within a CSA approved fire appliance or a fire ring fitted with a screen of 9.5 mm (3/8 inch) or smaller mesh to restrict any sparks or flying debris
  • Be located at least 1.5m from any vegetation or combustible material
  • Be located at least 3m from any building, structure or fuel supply tank

Rural Cumberland (Royston) Fire Protection Area

The Village of Cumberland issues permits for areas located outside the Village boundary under the authority of Comox Valley Regional District Rural Cumberland Fire Service Regulations Bylaw No. 258, 2013. Permits may be issued for

  • parts of Royston
  • some properties on Comox Lake Road
  • some properties in Bevan.

View the map of ‘Rural Cumberland Fire Protection Area’.

Recreational Camp Fires (Category 1), Valid only until December 31

Yard Waste Fires (Category 2), Valid from Oct 15 to Apr 15

Land Clearing Fires (Category 3)

Contact Cumberland Fire Rescue

Prohibited Materials

It is an offence to burn the following materials:

  • Garbage
  • Plastic
  • Wire insulation
  • Rubber products
  • Petroleum treated materials
  • Petroleum by-products
  • Asphalt and asphalt shingles
  • Asbestos-containing materials
  • Treated wood
  • Animal or vegetable matter
  • Animal remains
  • Any substance that emits heavy black smoke, noxious odours or hazardous air contaminants
  • Any material prohibited by the BC Environmental Management Act

Land-Clearing Fires and Yard Waste Fires

Land-clearing and yard waste fires are no longer permitted in the Village of Cumberland. Find out more about disposing of yard waste through your curbside solid waste collection and at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre.

Residents in the Rural Cumberland Fire Protection Service Area can apply for permits through the an online application above.

Exceptions include:

  • land-clearing fires that are for forestry management purposes and on Private Managed Forest Land; Municipalities do not have the authority to ban forestry activities.
  • municipal burning, however the Village is using alternate methods to dispose of wood waste

Report a Fire Complaint

To report any kind of fire complaint or emergency, dial 911. If it is not an emergency, tell the 911 operator that it is a fire non-emergency. Callers will then be connected to the fire department duty officer.

For more information about outdoor burning, call the Village office at 250-336-2291 or the Fire Department at 250-336-2531.

Fire Danger Rating

The Wildlife Management Branch publishes fire danger rating information on website updated year round.

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