Off-road vehicles are now prohibited in parts of the Coastal Fire Centre, including areas of the central and south Island. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

fire dangers

Off-road vehicle ban now in place for areas south of Nanaimo

Aug 10, 2026 | 4:13 PM

NANAIMO — A sweeping ban on off-road and all-terrain vehicles has been put in place by regional fire authorities, with the Nanaimo area being spared for now.

The Coastal Fire Centre issued a prohibition to all off-road vehicles on Monday, Aug. 10, effective immediately for several areas of Crown land on Vancouver Island, the B.C. coast and the Lower Mainland, in response to the growing fire danger risk.

Fire information officer Kimberly Kelly said all areas of the Island south of both the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) are now off-limits to off-road vehicles.

“This includes all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides and utility-terrain vehicles, and off-road motorcycles. These vehicles can all pose a wildfire ignition risk when driven through dry grass or vegetation.”

Prohibitions do not apply to private land or national park space, nor does it apply to emergency response or commercial uses.

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The RDN, ACRD and other areas to the north remain unaffected by this prohibition for now.

Kelly added the prohibition also puts in place some limitations for more road-worthy vehicles which may venture into the backcountry.

“On-highway vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, jeeps, and on-highway motorcycles may continue to use designated roads and…road surfaces, however during an [off-road vehicle] prohibition, they are not allowed to leave established roads and travel off-road.”

Roads are defined by the BC Wildfire Service as a pathway clearly intended for travel, and does not extend to bordering grass or other vegetation, clearings, or undeveloped land beside the roadway.

Fire danger ratings are listed as high for a majority of the south Island, with pockets of extreme just south of Nanaimo.

Wildfire activity has been at a minimum this summer on Vancouver Island, with just one fire burning as of Monday, Aug. 10, a small 0.2-hectare fire near Sutton Peak, around 60 kilometres west of Campbell River.

More information can be found here on the B.C. Government’s website.

–with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Off-road vehicle ban now in place for areas south of Nanaimo

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