Wildfire
smoke is a form of air pollution that can affect your health.

| Read the health effects of wildfire smoke and ways to reduce exposure. Click the image to view and download the poster.
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Smoke contains very small particles of pollution – known as particulate matter or PM – that travel deep into your lungs when you inhale. These particles can cause irritation and inflammation. Of all the pollutants in wildfire smoke, particulate matter poses the greatest risk to health. Learn more about the composition of wildfire smoke from this BCCDC fact sheet.
Most symptoms can be managed without medical attention:
- Sore throat
- Eye irritation
- Runny nose
- Mild cough
- Phlegm production
- Wheezy breathing
- Headaches
Some people may experience more severe symptoms and should seek prompt medical attention. Call HealthLink BC (8-1-1), talk to your primary care physician or visit a walk-in clinic if you're experiencing:
- Shortness of breath
- Severe cough
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
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 small children
- Elderly
- People who have been diagnosed with a 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.
The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke is reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air:
- Use a portable HEPA air cleaner to filter the air in one area of your home
- If a HEPA air cleaner is not available, consider making a home-made 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
- Drink lots of water to help reduce inflammation
- If you are working outdoors, use an N95 respirator that has been properly fitted by occupational health and safety professionals
Whenever possible, use air
conditioners, heat pumps, evaporative coolers, fans, and window shades to keep
your cleaner air space comfortably cool on hot days. Overheating can cause
serious health problems. Learn more about heat
The Air Quality Health Index toolThe 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. The index is based on measurements of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and other pollutants in the air, and is reported across BC. Learn more about how the index is calculated from this BCCDC Fact Sheet.
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 portion of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District temporarily deteriorates, or is expected to deteriorate soon.
Outside of Metro Vancouver
- The Smoky Skies Bulletin is issued by BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy when areas of the province are being impacted or have reasonable potential to be impacted by wildfire smoke within 24 to 48 hours.