Fire Department

*** Oliver Fire Protection District Open Burning is postponed to November 15th. Due to the high fire danger rating and current provincial restrictions on open burning, the start of open burning season is delayed. If conditions change drastically and the province removes burning restrictions, the open burning postponement will be reviewed. Oliver Fire Protection District Rural Area C resident's requesting to have an open burn are required to contact the Oliver Fire Department prior to any open burning.

The south Okanagan valley often experiences weather systems called inversions.  An inversion makes the airshed susceptible to the build up of air contaminants that impact human health, visibility, and the environment. During the permitted burn period authorized properties MUST confirm that burning is allowed on that day by checking the Air Quality and Venting Index. View today’s Venting Index.

Open burning is not permitted within the Town of Oliver boundaries. Approved cooking stoves with flames less than 15 cm are allowed. Gas flame and briquettes are also permitted.

Open burning in the rural area is not permitted April 15 to October 15 each year.

BC Wildfire Service

Think FireSmart. Be proactive and help protect your home and community.

FireSmart is a shared responsibility. With a few simple steps you can contribute to increasing property, neighbourhood and community resiliency to wildfire.

Here are some ways you can help spread FireSmart awareness and make your home and community a safer place:

• ​​​​Hold a FireSmart information session with your neighbours. Reach out to your FireSmart Coordinator and invite them to introduce FireSmart principles to community members. Ask each resident to make one FireSmart commitment and then hold a follow-up meeting to see how everyone is doing!
• Be a leader in your community! Hold a FireSmart project day – invite local residents to roll up their sleeves and clean up dead and downed woody debris surrounding the community.
• Contact your local FireSmart Coordinator to organize a FireSmart chipping event. Invite your neighbours to clean up vegetation on their properties and haul it to the end of their driveway for pick up and chipping.
• Invite the local fire department to come and help conduct FireSmart structure and site hazard assessments. 
• Work collectively with your neighbours to make sure that every house in your neighbourhood has eaves that are clean and free of debris! Try to commit to one action item on your property and check in with your neighbours to see how everyone’s FireSmart progress is coming along. Celebrate these activities with a community BBQ after!

The Town of Oliver's Fire Smart Coordinator is Kai Kaplan. 

Email: firesmart@oliver.ca or call 250.485.6256 (please leave a message).

There are many tips on the FireSmart website that can help you protect your property and be prepared in the event of an emergency. For more information, please visit FireSmart BC online.

Are you a leader in your community? Reach out to your local FireSmart Coordinator to set up a FireSmart Committee in your neighbourhood!

Fire Smart Community Reports:

The reports provide suggestions to help reduce the risk of wildfire around private property including removing flammable material under decks, clearing away ladder fuels such as cedar hedges, and cleaning debris from gutters. Reports are available for Morningstar Road and Eveningstar Crescent.

Please visit our FireSmart page for more information.