Every year in British Columbia there are thousands of wildfires (also called forest fires). Wildfires can affect your health and safety in many ways. The smoke from wildfires can affect the quality of the air, a power outage may spoil your food or you may have to evacuate if a wildfire is close to your home. Preparing in advance for wildfires can help you keep your family safe.
Go to the BC Wildfire Service map to find information about current wildfire activity.
There are many things you can do to prepare before an emergency or disaster. Learn what health symptoms to watch for and know where to find the latest information on wildfires in your area, including community evacuation orders. During and after a wildfire, you may experience issues like poor air quality or contaminated water. For more information, visit Emergency preparedness (Canadian Red Cross).
There are also specific emergency management resources for Indigenous communities and local governments, and Indigenous disaster response resources compiled by the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health.
During wildfire season, roads may be closed, you may be cut off from critical supplies and services or your community may be evacuated. There are many resources available to help you learn how to prepare for an emergency situation or an evacuation alert or order.
For people with specific health conditions:
For families with babies:
For information about protecting your community from wildfire:
Wildfire smoke may or may not affect you. Each person’s response to smoke depends on their age, health and exposure. Common symptoms include eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, mild cough, phlegm production, wheezing or headaches. These symptoms may be managed without seeking medical attention.
If symptoms do not improve after taking action to reduce exposure, or they worsen, seek prompt medical attention.
Find local information from health authorities on wildfires:
EmergencyInfoBC is active during partial and full-scale provincial emergencies. They provide current and verified event information during active emergencies. If you are under an evacuation order or affected by fire, please contact your local government to receive emergency support services. To find the Emergency Program Coordinator for your community, visit the CivicInfo BC Directory.
If there is a wildfire in or near your community, you may be evacuated to a safer area. Wildfires can impact evacuation routes. Visit DriveBC for the latest updates on driving conditions..
Find information about wildfires in B.C., including where they are and what to do if you are evacuated:
Seniors may need special support in the event of an evacuation:
Smoke particles can irritate the airways as well as the cardiovascular system. When smoke levels are high, everyone should be monitoring their symptoms, but those with a history of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), other respiratory conditions or heart problems should be monitored more closely. Sometimes smoky air can increase the risk of certain infections for children, infants, older adults, those who are pregnant and those with chronic illnesses.
It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly if you do experience more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain or heart palpitations.
For non-emergency health information or advice, call 8-1-1.
During a state of emergency, pharmacists can provide a drug without a prescription to ensure the health and safety of the public. People who use rescue medications such as inhalers should carry them at all times during wildfire season. For more information, visit:
To find a walk-in clinic or Urgent and Primary Care Centre in your area, search the HealthLink BC Directory or call 8-1-1 to speak with a health services navigator.
Make sure to stay up-to-date on air quality warnings (Government of B.C.) and the specific recommendations for your area.
Poor air quality can be harmful to your health, especially for those with heart and lung conditions, older adults and children.
Before being physically active outdoors, check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) in your area, if available. When active outdoors you are more sensitive to air pollution because you breathe deeply allowing more air to enter your lungs. To learn about the AQHI and when to modify outdoor physical activities for generally healthy and at risk populations, visit Understanding AQHI messages.
For more information about air quality, including current air quality advisories, visit:
Find air quality information from your health authority:
Heat and air pollution affect your body in different ways. Cooler, cleaner indoor air is the best way to protect yourself from heat and air pollution. Heat poses a bigger risk than smoke for most people, so prioritize staying cool. Learn about how to stay cool indoors.
Consider visiting a public cooling centre or a clean air shelter (for example, a community centre or library) if your home is both hot and smoky.
When the air quality in your area is poor, officials may recommend that you keep your windows closed. Monitor indoor temperatures, especially during heat events. Prolonged exposure to indoor temperatures above 31°C (87.8°F) can be dangerous for infants, older adults and people with chronic conditions. If your windows are closed and you do not have air conditioning (or it is not running), you will need to take special care to stay cool, especially during hot weather (PDF, 4.5MB, BCCDC). If the air is smoky, and you find it is hard to breathe, seek medical attention right away.
Disasters, such as wildfires, can impact your emotional health as much as your physical health. Learn what you can do to recognize signs of stress or trauma in yourself and your family.
When your local or First Nations government has declared it is safe for you to return home, there are steps you can take to make the transition easier and safer. Learn more at Recover after a wildfire (Government of B.C.).
If there is a wildfire in your area, the power might go out in your community. Fire retardants may be used in or near your community to reduce the size of the fires and lessen their impact. Find out how to protect water supplies and food affected by fire retardants or power outages:
Learn more from Health Canada about indoor and outdoor air quality, health effects of air pollution, wildfire smoke and your health.
Call toll-free in B.C., 8-1-1, or 7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing to get personalized assistance. Speak to a navigator who can guide you to reliable health information or connect you with a health professional. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.
