Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health: Preparing for wildfire smoke events
Get prepared so you know what to do before a wildfire is nearby.
You can do many things to prepare yourself and your home for wildfire smoke events before the start of wildfire season, even if you live in an area with low wildfire risk.
On this page
Prepare yourself for wildfire smoke events
Stay informed
- Know where to go to check air quality conditions in your community using the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) or InfoSmog (for Quebec)
- Speak with a doctor or health care provider about how to manage your health during a wildfire smoke event
- This is especially important if you or members of your family are in 1 or more of the groups more likely to be impacted
- Know how to contact your local health authority in case you need more information about local cleaner air spaces
Stay supplied
- Maintain a supply of necessary medications at home and always carry these medications with you during wildfire season
- Work with your health care provider to create a plan of what to do in case your medications are unable to stabilize your condition
- Ensure you have well-fitting NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirators (KN95 or KF94) to use if you must spend time outdoors during a wildfire smoke event
Prepare your home and vehicle for wildfire smoke events
Consider purchasing 1 or more certified, properly-sized portable air cleaners for your home.
Prepare your household ventilation system and air cleaners by:
- replacing or cleaning air filters according to the manufacturer's recommendations
- choosing the highest quality filter your ventilation system can handle
- having extra filters
Ensure you have certified smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in your home that are in proper working order.
You should also change your vehicle's cabin air filter regularly according to the manufacturer instructions to ensure your filter remains effective.