Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health: Preparing for wildfire smoke events
Know what to do before a wildfire is nearby by getting prepared.
You can do many thing 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
- Check air quality conditions in your community using the 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 the contact information for 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) if you must spend time outdoors
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 ventilation system and air cleaners by:
- replacing or cleaning air filters according to the manufacturer's recommendations
- be sure to choose 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.