Emergency

Wildfire smoke

A smokey landscape during the 2017 British Columbia wildfires.

Wildfire smoke events are becoming more frequent and severe as the climate changes, resulting in more days with poor air quality that can impact health. Wildfire smoke is a form of air pollution made of small particles and many gases, which can affect your health.

Related: Air Quality, Climate Change and Health

Why smoke is harmful

Wildfire smoke contains very small particles of pollution – known as fine particulate matter or PM2.5 – that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale. These particles can enter the bloodstream, and cause irritation and inflammation throughout the body. This can have both short-term and longer-lasting health impacts.

Wildfire smoke symptoms

  • Sore throat
  • Eye irritation
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Phlegm production
  • Wheezy breathing
  • Headaches

Severe wildfire smoke symptoms

  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe cough
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Heart palpitations

Some people may experience more severe symptoms and should seek prompt medical attention. Less severe symptoms can often be managed without medical attention but should be monitored closely. Call HealthLink BC (8-1-1) or seek health care promptly if you're experiencing severe symptoms. 

People at higher risk

Different people respond differently to smoke, and some people are at higher risk of experiencing health effects. Reducing exposure to wildfire smoke is especially important for the following groups of people:

  • People with pre-existing chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and diabetes
  • People who are pregnant
  • Infants and young children
  • Older adults
  • People with a current or recent respiratory infection

Other people can be affected by wildfire smoke, too. Everyone responds differently, so listen to your body and reduce your exposure if the smoke is affecting you.

Wild fire smoke poster

POSTER

Health effects of wildfire smoke and ways to reduce risk

Download the wildfire smoke poster

Protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke

  • Spend time indoors with filtered air

    • A  portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter or a do-it-yourself air cleaner can reduce indoor air pollution and provides the best protection from wildfire smoke. Use them in spaces where you spend the most time.
    • If you have a building air system, it may filter some but not all of the pollution from wildfire smoke. The amount of protection varies depending on the building.
    • Keep windows and doors closed to keep out smoky outdoor air, but make sure the space doesn’t get too hot.
    • Make sure your air cleaner is the right size for your space, and change the filters regularly.
    • If you don’t have an air cleaner or your home is too hot, spend time in public spaces with air conditioning, like community centres, libraries, and shopping malls.

  • Think about limiting outdoor activities

  • Watch for symptoms

    • Watch for symptoms such as coughing, wheezy breath or headaches. These are signs to take it easier.
    • Continue to manage existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes. Use medications like inhalers as needed and seek medical care if symptoms persist.
    • Get medical help if you have chest discomfort, trouble breathing, severe coughing or wheezing, or dizziness.
    • Even if you are not impacted, remember to look out for others around you, particularly people at higher risk. 

  • Check air quality often

  • Stay cool

    • Hot weather and air pollution can often happen at the same time. Extreme heat is a bigger health risk for most people.
    • Keep cool by spending time in air-conditioned spaces and drinking plenty of water.
    • Check with your local government to find nearby cooling centers.

  • Consider wearing a well-fitted mask

    • If you need to be outside, consider wearing a well-fitted high-efficiency mask like an N95, KB95, or KF94 respirator.
    • Cloth masks with three layers or medical masks provide some protection, but not as much.
    • Single-layer masks, bandanas, scarves, and t-shirts do not protect you from wildfire smoke.
    • Masks can sometimes make breathing harder. If you feel unwell while using a mask for protection from smoke, stop any strenuous activity and go inside where the air is cleaner.

  • Protect indoor air quality

    • Building operators should have a smoke readiness plan based on ASHRAE 44 detailed guidance.
    • Operators of cleaner air facilities providing refuge from smoke should also refer to Health Canada Guidance.
    • If your building has a mechanical ventilation (HVAC) system, your smoke readiness plan can include actions to reduce outdoor air intake and upgrade air filters (highest rating possible, ideally minimum MERV 13). Make sure these changes do not reduce building pressure. 

  • Protect people you care for and outdoor event attendees

  • Protect outdoor workers and unhoused people

    • Employers can provide outdoor workers with high-quality masks, and adjust work to include regular breaks and indoor tasks where possible. It is important to support workers, monitor symptoms, and to stop outdoor work if needed.
    • WorkSafeBC provides guidance to protect workers from wildfire smoke and heat stress.
    • People experiencing homelessness have limited access to clean indoor air. Help protect health in our communities by allowing access to indoor community spaces for as long as possible

Guidance to buy or build an air cleaner

Air cleaners can improve the air that you breath indoors. You can purchase a portable air cleaner, or make one using the resources below. Research shows that well-constructed home-made air cleaners can remove fine particles similarly to commercial portable cleaners.

  • Tips for buying a portable air cleaner

    • Has a HEPA air filter — removes the small particles in wildfire smoke.
    • Ideally also has an activated carbon filter —carbon filters can reduce some gaseous pollutants.
    • Is certified by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers).
    • Is appropriate for the room size — check the recommended maximum room size to make sure the one you buy is sized for your space. Multiple devices may be needed for larger rooms.
    • Does not produce ozone, a lung irritant. Some units use electrostatic precipitation or ionizing technologies that can create ozone gas. If the unit has these features, make sure it has been tested for ozone production or is certified for low ozone production by the California Air Resources Board.
    • Has ENERGY STAR designation to maximize energy efficiency.
    • Replace the air filter as recommended.

  • How to make a do-it-yourself (DIY) portable air cleaner?

    • Follow the Step by Step Guide from BREATHE,  a project of the BC Lung Foundation.
    • Use one DIY air cleaner per 150 to 500 square feet.
    • Replace the air filter every 3-6 months; watch out for filter discoloration, visible dirt or dust, or decreased air flow.
    • To read the evidence on DIY air cleaners and learn about other designs visit the BCCDC.  

Wildfire smoke resources for youth, children and pregnant people

Breathing in wildfire smoke during pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood can acutely impact the health of the child and the pregnant person. A growing body of research suggests that this may also have longer-term health effects. Pregnant people and those caring for young children should take extra care to try to limit exposure to wildfire smoke.

    • Protect children from wildfire smoke - poster

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    • Protect children from wildfire smoke - postcard

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    • Protect your baby from wildfire smoke - poster

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    • Protect your baby from wildfire smoke - postcard

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    • Ventilation and indoor air quality guide for schools and childcare facilities

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    • WIldfire smoke guide for schools and childcare facilities

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How to check local smoke conditions

  1. Check local air quality data: Visit the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) air quality map. Find your community on the map and locate the nearby air quality sensors, marked by colored shapes. Note the color and number of the sensor.
  2. Use the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): Match the sensors color/number to the AQHI risk category (low, moderate, high or very high) to decide if you need to adjust your plans. Refer to the AQHI table below for steps to protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke.
  3. Check air quality often. Air quality can change throughout the day.

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

  • The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) can help people understand how air quality can affect their health, and how they can protect themselves when air quality is poor due to conditions including wildfire smoke.
  • The AQHI forecast can help you plan tomorrow’s outdoor activities.  
  • Learn more about how its calculated from this BCCDC Fact Sheet. 

Download the AQHI

AQHI-Air-Quality-Health-Index

Air quality warnings

Watch for these air quality notifications issued in the VCH region.

  • Within Metro Vancouver

    An Air Quality Warning is issued by Metro Vancouver when air quality over a large area of the region worsens, or is expected to worsen soon. 

    Visit this Metro Vancouver website to learn more about the types of warnings that are issued, how to know if there is smoke in the air, and how to stay up-to-date: Metro Vancouver - Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality

  • Outside of Metro Vancouver

    A Air Quality Warning is issued by BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy when areas of the province may be impacted by wildfire smoke within 24 to 48 hours.

Air quality maps in our region

  • Government Regulatory Sensor Map

    Measurements of fine particulate mater (PM2.5) are typically used to monitor wildfire smoke. This is because PM2.5 is an air pollutant consistently found in wildfire smoke, has known health impacts, and is measured by existing networks of government monitors.

    Data from these government monitors can be found here on the BC government site and here on the Metro Vancouver site.

  • Low-Cost Sensor Map

    Some Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) communities don’t have local government air quality monitoring stations to measure PM2.5. VCH works with community organizations to install portable air quality sensors for PM2.5, with a focus on rural, remote, and smaller communities that would otherwise have limited access to local air quality data. (Learn more about this VCH project, AQ-CARE.) 

    Click here for a map displaying PM2.5 data from both portable and government air quality monitors. Note that this map does not include all health-harming air pollutants that may lead to an air quality warning, but does provide a good indication of wildfire smoke conditions. 

Local weather, shelter, and emergency information

The best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to spend time in filtered indoor air. Close the windows and use a portable HEPA air cleaner or a DIY air cleaner. If you don’t have an air cleaner or your home is too hot, spend time in public spaces with air conditioning.

Many local governments and First Nations post updated information on their social media pages about cooler and cleaner air spaces or temporary shelters activated during the hot and smoky season.

Confirm with organizations directly if services or spaces are currently available. 

Learn where to find shelter, weather, and emergency information

More wildfire smoke resources

Find more information on the health effects of wildfire smoke, how to prepare for the season and ways to protect health from wildfire smoke.

The BCCDC website provides many factsheets for wildfire smoke. Key factsheets included under the BCCDC resource tab are: Health effects of wildfire smoke, How to prepare for the wildfire smoke season, Portable air cleaners for wildfire smoke, Wildfire smoke and Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), Wildfire smoke during extreme heat events, and Do-It-Yourself air cleaners.

    • Wildfire smoke: schools and childcare facilities

      Vancouver Coastal Health & Fraser Health

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    • Wildfire smoke: community care facilities

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    • Guidance for cleaner air spaces during wildfire smoke events

      Health Canada

      Visit the website

    • Planning framework for protecting commercial building occupants from smoke during wildfire events

      American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

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    • Postcard with tips for new parents and young children to protect against wildfire smoke

      Vancouver Coastal Health

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    • Summer heat, wildfire smoke and health: Recommended actions for owners and managers of rental and strata housing

      Vancouver Coastal Health & Fraser Health

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    • Outdoor gathering guidance for extreme heat and wildfire smoke events

      Vancouver Coastal Health & Fraser Health

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