How to read BC wildfire info: statuses, evacuations, bans — a Vancouver Island guide

Wildfire information in B.C. comes from a few systems that work together. This page explains the key terms and map layers you’ll see most often — tailored for Vancouver Island readers.

Live view: Open our State of the Island Map with wildfires, evacuations, bans, danger ratings and more — Open the map.

1) Fire statuses on the map (what the colours/icons mean)

BC Wildfire Service uses four “stages of control” to describe overall progress on a fire:

Out of Control (OC): The fire is spreading or expected to spread beyond current control lines. Expect aggressive suppression (crews, aircraft, control lines).
Being Held (BH): Given weather, fuels and resources, the fire is not expected to grow beyond current boundaries. Crews continue strengthening lines and mopping up.
Under Control (UC): Suppression has ensured the fire will not spread beyond the perimeter. Crews may keep patrolling hotspots.
Out (OUT): Fully extinguished or winter conditions ensure it will not spread; recovery/rehab follows.

You may also see Wildfire of Note — fires that are highly visible or pose a public‑safety concern and therefore receive enhanced updates and a special map icon.

Pro tip: “Rank” (1–6) describes observed fire behaviour at a moment in time (from smouldering to intense crown fire). That’s different from the status above, which describes overall progress on containment.

2) Evacuations: Alert vs Order (and who issues them)

Evacuation Alert: Be ready to leave on short notice; gather essentials and plan routes.
Evacuation Order: Leave immediately — the area is unsafe.
Tactical Evacuation: Immediate police‑led evacuation when there’s no time for prior notice.

Alerts and orders are issued by local governments and First Nations (often with BCWS input). Once available as geospatial data, they appear on official maps. You may also see Area Restrictions/Leave Area Orders around active incidents — legal closures that keep the public out of suppression zones for everyone’s safety.

3) Bans, restrictions and “categories” of open fire

B.C. announces open fire prohibitions by region using “categories”:

Category 1: Campfire ≤ 0.5 m high × 0.5 m wide (recreational/ceremonial). When banned, even small campfires are prohibited.
Category 2: Small piles or two concurrent piles (≤ 2 m high, 3 m wide) or grass burning ≤ 0.2 ha.
Category 3: Larger/multiple piles, windrows, or large‑area burns; special registration and rules apply.

Check current bans for your region: BCWS Fire bans and restrictions. Municipalities may set stricter rules inside city limits.

4) Zones and fire centres: where Vancouver Island fits

B.C. is divided into six Fire Centres (Coastal, Northwest, Prince George, Cariboo, Kamloops, Southeast), each split into local Fire Zones. Vancouver Island is in the Coastal Fire Centre, including zones like South Island (V6), Mid Island (V7) and North Island–Central Coast (V8/V9/VA). Many bans, updates and resourcing notes are issued at the fire‑centre or zone level.

You may also see Zone Activity Level (1–5) — that’s an operations indicator (how busy a zone is and how resources are being moved), not a public danger rating.

5) Fire danger rating (Very Low → Extreme)

The daily fire danger rating (updated in the afternoon) reflects the risk of fires starting/spreading based on weather and fuels. It’s tied to the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. High/Extreme conditions often trigger more restrictions.

For industry/commercial operators you’ll also hear Danger Class (III–V), which governs high‑risk activities (e.g., mandatory shutdowns after multiple days of Class V). That’s separate from consumer‑facing map legends but explains why some operations pause in severe conditions.

6) What each wildfire page/map layer tells you

On the official BCWS map/app you can toggle layers for Wildfires, Evacuations, Fire Bans, Area Restrictions, Fire Danger, Smoke Forecast, Out Fires, Local Authorities and Road Events. Per‑incident pages list size (hectares), discovery date, suspected cause (human, lightning, under investigation), resources assigned, last update and more.

Quick links to our map:

7) Smoke and health

During smoky periods, use the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for health‑based guidance — it runs 1–10+ (low to very high risk) and includes forecasts. B.C. also issues unified Air Quality Warnings when air quality degrades.

8) Handy numbers and official links

Report a wildfire: 1‑800‑663‑5555 or *5555 on a cell (BCWS)
Official BC Wildfire Map/App: Current situation, perimeters, evacuations and bans
DriveBC road events/closures: Check highway status
Fire bans and restrictions: By region/fire centre

9) Quick FAQ

“Under Control” means out, right?

- Not quite. UC means it will not spread beyond control lines; crews still patrol and extinguish hotspots until it’s declared Out.

Why does a fire’s size change suddenly?

- Perimeters are updated as better intel arrives (ground/air mapping, infrared). Big jumps often reflect improved mapping, not explosive growth in that moment.

Who decides evacuations?

- Your local authority or First Nation (often with BCWS input). BCWS shares them on the map when provided.

What does “of note” mean?

- A visibility/safety flag so the public gets enhanced updates and a special map icon.

10) How to read an update quickly (checklist)

Status (OC/BH/UC/Out) and suspected cause (lightning/human/under investigation)
Evacuation info from your local authority (Alert vs Order)
Bans/restrictions for your fire centre/zone (Category 1/2/3)
Today’s danger rating and short‑term wind/smoke context
Road events (closures, piloting) if you need to travel

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Municipalities can layer on stricter rules inside city limits — always check local government pages too. If you’re near an incident, respect Area Restrictions/Leave Area Orders — they exist to keep both the public and firefighters safe.