When smoke from a wildfire enters a community, it can cause problems for the people who live there. The biggest health risk comes from small particles in the smoke called PM2.5. These particles are so small you can’t see them, and they can get in your eyes, breathing (respiratory) system, and bloodstream.
Symptoms can start within hours of being exposed to smoke. They may include:
- burning eyes
- a runny nose
- coughing
- trouble breathing or illnesses like bronchitis
If you have a heart or lung problem, these small particles can make it worse.
Who is most at risk of health problems from wildfire smoke?
Some people are at higher risk of health problems from wildfire smoke. These include:
- people with heart or lung disease, such as congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and asthma
- people aged 65 and older
- people who are pregnant
- people experiencing houselessness, because they may struggle to find places with clean air
- children—their breathing systems are still developing, they breathe in more air than adults, and they're more likely to be active outside
- people who do heavy outdoor work or play outdoor sports
Smoke can also be harmful to pets. Try to keep your pets inside as much as possible and make sure they have lots of water. If your pet has trouble breathing, contact your vet.
If smoke is a problem where I live, how can I lower my health risk?
If smoke is a problem in your community, there are things you can do to lower your health risk.
In your home
- Close all windows and doors to the outside, including attached garage doors.
- If you have a wood-burning fireplace, close the damper.
- Use a portable air cleaner, also called an air purifier, with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how to use it. You can also make your own air cleaner.
- Make a cleaner-air space in your home: Place an air cleaner in a room with few indoor pollutants with windows and doors closed.
Heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) systems
- Turn the furnace thermostat and fan to low, if possible. Always keep the pilot light on.
- If you have a forced air system to heat or cool your home, upgrade your furnace filters to the highest efficiency filter your system can handle. A MERV 13 or higher-rated filter may help lower the levels of smoke and particles in the air in your home.
- Check the filter regularly and change it as often as needed.
- If you have air conditioning, close the fresh-air intake and clean the filter.
Activities
- Don’t smoke or vape inside your home.
- Avoid doing things that can make indoor air quality worse, like using a wood-burning fireplace or stove, vacuuming, or burning candles.
- Do less outdoor activity, if possible.
- Drink lots of water to keep your nose and mouth moist so it’s easier to breathe.
What can I do if it's too warm inside my home?
When you keep doors and windows closed to keep smoke out and you don't have air conditioning, your home might get very warm.
When very hot weather and wildfire smoke happen at the same time, the health risks from heat are more dangerous. Staying cool is the most important thing. Watch for signs of heat-related illness, like heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
If you need to cool down, you could visit a place that’s more air-tight with cooler filtered air. Examples include a shopping mall, library, community centre, or movie theatre.
Find out more about wildfire smoke with extreme heat.
How can I stay aware of what's going on in my community?
When wildfire smoke is in your community, regularly check for air quality updates on local media (T.V., radio, or online).
Check on neighbours, friends, or relatives who may need extra support, especially older adults who live alone.
What if I need to leave my home?
When the air quality is poor and you're in your vehicle, keep the windows closed. Run car fans on recirculate mode to avoid bringing in outdoor air. When you’re in an area with less smoke, switch the fan to outside air.
If you need to leave your community, only think about leaving if it's safe to travel and you're going somewhere that's likely to have less smoke.
If you're in the wildfire area, be ready to evacuate. Follow all public service announcements. Build an emergency kit and have it ready.
Can wearing a mask help protect me from smoke?
You can use a mask (also called a respirator) like an N95, KN95, or P100 to help protect yourself from wildfire smoke. These masks filter very small particles like PM2.5, but they don’t protect you from gases in wildfire smoke.
For a respirator-type mask to work well, it needs to fit you and be used correctly. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and do a "seal check" to check the fit.
If you don’t have a respirator mask that fits well, a high-quality medical mask (such as an ASTM-certified mask) may give you some protection against wildfire smoke. However, the very small particles in smoke can go around or through these masks more easily.
To get the best protection possible, it’s also important to stay indoors with doors and windows closed, use indoor air cleaners, and limit how much time you spend outside.
Can I still be active when there's wildfire smoke in the air?
Check your local air quality health index (AQHI) regularly to understand current air quality conditions, and adjust your activities as needed. When there’s wildfire smoke in the air or the AQHI is high:
- Move outdoor activities indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible.
- Shorten or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities. Heavy exercise can raise your breathing rate by 10 to 20 times compared to resting.
- Reschedule or cancel outdoor events, including sports and competitions.
- Slow down or stop activity if you start to cough, feel tired, or have trouble breathing.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
Learn more about AQHI health messages.
Are health and safety recommendations the same for all types of fires?
In most cases, health and safety measures for other types of fires—building, factory, or landfill fires—are the same as for wildfires.
You may need to take different measures if other types of fires cause more chemicals in the smoke. For example, you may be told to shelter-in-place (stay indoors and don't leave unless you're told to).
Check your local media and follow all public service announcements.
What if I start to feel unwell?
When there's wildfire smoke where you live, pay close attention to your health, especially if you have heart or lung problems.
Take all your regular medicines. It's a good idea to have a week's supply of medicine with you.
Do everything your healthcare provider told you to do to care for yourself and contact your healthcare provider if you have any health concerns, even if you don't have heart or lung problems.
If you have chest tightness, chest pain, shortness of breath, or another health emergency,
call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.
For nurse advice and general health information, call
Health Link at 811, anytime day or night.
