Resource

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.

Why smoke is harmful

Wildfire smoke contains very small particles of pollution – known as particulate matter or PM2.5 – that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale. Some may enter the bloodstream, and these particles can 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 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

WILDFIRE SMOKE POSTER

Read about the health effects of wildfire smoke and ways to reduce exposure.

Download the wildfire smoke poster

Protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke

Reduce everyone’s exposure to wildfire smoke

  • Use a portable HEPA air cleaner to filter the air in one or more rooms at home. Keep windows and doors closed but ensure the space does not get too hot.
  • If a HEPA air cleaner is not available, consider making a homemade box fan air filter..
  • Visit public spaces such as community centres, libraries, and shopping malls which tend to have cleaner, cooler indoor air.
  • Limit activity and outdoor exercise on smoky days because the harder you breathe, the more smoke you inhale. Take it easy and take frequent breaks if outdoor activities cannot be avoided. 
  • If outdoor activities cannot be avoided, consider wearing a high-quality and well-fitting mask: a respirator with a rating such as N95, KB95, or KF94. This can help reduce the amount of small particles in wildfire smoke that you breathe in. Wearing a mask can make breathing more difficult, so always pay attention to how you are feeling and reduce or stop your activities if you feel unwell.
  • Whenever possible, use cooling options such as air conditioning, heat pumps, evaporative coolers, and interior and exterior window shades to keep your cleaner air space comfortably cool on hot days. Overheating can cause serious health problems. Heat is a bigger health concern for most people. Learn more about heat and health here.
  • If you have a chronic health condition, work with your health care providers to create a health management plan for smoky conditions. If you use rescue medications, make sure that you have an ample supply at home and carry them with you at all times during the wildfire season.

Protect others in the community

Keep updated on air quality information

How to check your current local smoke conditions

  1. Check your local air quality data: Check the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) air quality map Locations of air quality sensors are indicated by coloured dots on the map; users can find their community on the map and the closest sensors. Note the colour of the sensor, and the number displayed on it. 
  2. Look at the Air Quality Health Index tool (below) and use the number/colour to find the AQHI risk category: low, moderate, high or very high.  Use the AQHI to decide if you should change your plans for the day.
  3. Look above to learn what actions to take to protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke.
  4. Check the air quality and AQHI often. Air quality can change throughout the day.

Air Quality Health Index Tool (AQHI) for wildfire smoke

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a tool designed to help people understand how air quality can affect their health, and how they can protect themselves when air quality is poor. Learn more about how the index is calculated from this BCCDC Fact Sheet. 

The AQHI forecast found here can help you plan for tomorrow. View the AQHI index values chart.

Air quality maps in our region

Measurements of fine particulate mater (PM2.5)are typically used to monitor wildfire smoke. This is because PM2.5 is the air pollutant most consistently elevated by wildfire smoke, has known health impacts, and is measured by 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.

Many Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) communities don’t have government air quality monitoring stations to measure PM2.5. VCH works with partner 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 advisory, but does provide a good indication of wildfire smoke conditions.  

Air quality advisories and bulletins

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

Within Metro Vancouver

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

Outside of Metro Vancouver

Smoky Skies Bulletin is issued by BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy when areas of the province are being impacted may be impacted by wildfire smoke within 24 to 48 hours.

Visit this Metro Vancouver website to learn more about the types of advisories that are issued when the air gets smoky, how to know if there is smoke in the air, and how to stay up-to-date:

Metro Vancouver - Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality 

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

    • Wildfire smoke: community care facilities

    • Guidance for cleaner air spaces during wildfire smoke events

      Health Canada

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

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

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

      Vancouver Coastal Health

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

      Vancouver Coastal Health & Fraser Health

    • Outdoor gathering guidance for extreme heat and wildfire smoke events

      Vancouver Coastal Health & Fraser Health

Related content

Visit VCH Air Quality topic page
Visit VCH Climate Change and Health main page