Responding to Canada’s 2026 wildfire season

Wildfires continue to impact communities across Canada. The Government of Canada’s Wildfires 2026 web page includes vital information about programs, policies and initiatives to keep Canadians informed about the ongoing wildfire situation across the country.

Emergency management in Canada

In Canada, an all-hazard approach is applied to all events such as major floods, wildfires, and infrastructure failures. There are four key steps involved in the emergency management process in Canada:

Step 1: Local response

• Emergencies are first managed at the local level - Municipal emergency services, local authorities, police, fire, and hospitals.

Step 2: Provincial or territorial response

• Provinces and territories provide assistance when an emergency exceeds the capacity of local authorities.

Step 3: Request for federal assistance

• Provinces and territories can submit a Request for Federal Assistance (RFA), when capacities are exceeded.

Step 4: Federal coordination and support

• RFAs for events such as wildland fires are reviewed and approved by the Minister of Emergency Management; and response is coordinated by Public Safety Canada through the Government Operations Centre (GOC) in partnership with other federal departments and non-government organizations.

The Government of Canada continues to strengthen national emergency preparedness and response capacity through investments in wildfire response resources, emergency management programs, and community resilience initiatives.

Find out more about emergency management in Canada.

The 2026 wildfire season

Canada's North is warming much faster than the rest of the world, about four times the global average. Several communities have broken long-standing heat records during prolonged heat waves.

Southern British Columbia has experienced persistent warmth and well-below-normal precipitation through July and into August, adding to longer-term dryness and leaving the landscape increasingly vulnerable to wildfire. These prolonged conditions are now contributing to significant wildfire activity across the region. Northwestern Ontario experienced persistent dry conditions, followed by an extreme heat event in mid-July.

Temperatures were higher than about 98 per cent of temperatures typically recorded for that time of year, making this a very rare event that would be expected to occur only once every 50 years or more. While periods of rainfall have provided intermittent relief heading into August, dry conditions remain a concern. Both regions have experienced periods of heavy smoke due to wildfires, with winds carrying smoke well beyond the immediate fire areas and resulting in widespread air-quality impacts.

Canada contains vast areas of boreal forest, often remote and sparsely populated. As a result, wildfire response strategies must balance public safety, environmental considerations and available resources.

Not every wildfire can or should be suppressed in Canada. Through informed decision-making, jurisdictions strategically focus resources on wildfires that pose a risk to people, communities, and critical infrastructure.

That's why Canada’s approach focuses not only on firefighting but also on prevention and resilience. Federal investments include supporting the implementation of FireSmart measures to reduce local wildfire risks and strengthen community preparedness, enhancing wildfire forecasting and monitoring, supporting  Indigenous-led fire stewardship, and bolstering response by leasing aircraft and funding firefighter training and the purchase of equipment.

Preparing for wildfires

Canadians living in areas at risk of wildfire should:

• Review and update their emergency plan.
• Ensure their emergency kit is complete and accessible.
• Monitor wildfire conditions through official sources, including local authorities, radio, television, and trusted online channels.
• Follow emergency alerts and evacuation orders if issued.

When an evacuation order is given, residents should leave immediately and remain outside the evacuation zone until authorities declare it safe to return. Canadians are encouraged to prepare their homes, vehicles, and families in advance.

Wildfires and your health

Wildfire smoke can affect health even at low levels of exposure. Smoke contains pollutants and fine particles that can cause irritation and respiratory symptoms, particularly among people at greater risk, including seniors, infants, pregnant individuals, and people with pre-existing health conditions.

Common symptoms of wildfire smoke exposure may include:

• Headaches
• Mild cough
• Sore or watery eyes
• Production of phlegm
• Irritation of the nose, throat, and sinuses

More serious symptoms may include:

• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Severe cough
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing or asthma attacks
• Heart palpitations

Individuals experiencing severe symptoms or a medical emergency should seek immediate medical attention and call 9-1-1. To reduce exposure to smoke, Canadians should stay indoors when possible, keep windows and doors closed, and stay hydrated.

Air Quality Health index

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale from 1 to 10+ that helps Canadians understand how air quality may affect their health and what actions they should take to reduce health risks. AQHI of 1 to 3 represents a low risk, 4 to 6 is moderate risk and 7 to 10+ is high risk. The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a combination of three air pollutants that are harmful to human health: ozone (O₃) at ground level, particulate matter (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Air monitoring stations across Canada measure the pollutant levels to calculate the AQHI. 

Canadians should regularly monitor local air quality conditions and follow public health guidance during poor air quality and wildfire smoke events, especially people at risk, including children, people over 65 years and those with health conditions.

Wildfire smoke can significantly reduce air quality and lead to air quality alerts in affected regions. Air quality alerts include recommendations to help you protect your health. To see active air quality alerts, visit Canada.ca/weather or check the WeatherCAN app.

Emergency Management Assistance Program: Air Purifier Support

Through Indigenous Services Canada’s Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP), on reserve and other eligible First Nations may be eligible for reimbursement for the rental, or where rental is not available, the purchase of air filtration units during wildfire events. This support helps communities reduce health risks associated with wildfire smoke, particularly for vulnerable populations.

EMAP may fund air purifiers and other air filtration units for community facilities experiencing significant wildfire smoke impacts and poor air quality. In certain high-risk situations, support may also be available for vulnerable individuals in private homes, including seniors, pregnant individuals, young children, and people with chronic or acute health conditions. Air purifiers purchased through EMAP become community assets that can be used in future emergencies.

Last year, Indigenous Services Canada supported the distribution of more than 13,000 air purifiers and more than 900 generators. The lessons learned from that experience continues to inform our preparedness efforts this year.

For more information about the rental or purchase of air purifiers under emergency response and recovery funding, please consult the EMAP air purifier guidelines.