Staying safe during a wildfire

Last updated on February 7, 2024

Visit Emergency Info BC for wildfire Evacuation Orders, Alerts and evacuee supports. The Emergency Evacuee Guidance page has details on what to expect when evacuated.

If there is a wildfire, the most important thing you can do is follow all Evacuation Alerts and Orders. Follow instructions from your band office, municipality, regional district or local authority.

Find trusted information

If a wildfire is directly threatening your community, the best information sources are your municipality, regional district, band office or local authority. Find out in advance how they’ll share vital information, whether it’s via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), a website or phone number.

Provincial information

Depending on the emergency, you can also check provincial channels for information:

Emergency Info BC

You can follow Emergency Info BC to get notifications for Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders issued by local authorities, as well as other information you may need to respond and recover from emergencies.

BC Wildfire Service

During a fire season, the BC Wildfire Service provides regular updates on current wildfire activity, including details about specific wildfires, fire response efforts, and Fire Danger Ratings across the province.

Evacuation stages

Learn about what happens during an evacuation including before, during, and after an Evacuation Order is issued.

Wildfire smoke and your health

Wildfire smoke can be especially harmful for infants and young children, older people and people with pre-existing heart and lung conditions. The best way to protect yourself is to reduce exposure. Here are a few tips to help you breathe easier:

Stay indoors and keep the air clean (windows/doors closed, no smoking, no burning fireplaces/candles/incense, no vacuuming)
When in a vehicle, keep windows closed with air conditioning set to recirculate
Reduce time spent outdoors and avoid vigorous outdoor activities
People with asthma or other chronic illnesses should ensure they have an adequate supply of inhalers/medication and should activate their asthma or personal protection plans
High-quality, portable air cleaners that use HEPA filtration can effectively remove smoke particles from the indoor air. People with respiratory conditions should consider purchasing HEPA filtration units
Visit places with controlled air supply, such as shopping malls, swimming pools, or public libraries
For non-emergency medical advice or assistance, visit Health Link BC or call 8-1-1
Only call 9-1-1 during an emergency, such as if someone is having difficulties breathing or is in cardiovascular distress

Air quality advisories and smoky skies bulletins

Subscribe to air quality notifications or visit bcairquality.ca to receive air quality information for your area.

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

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