Forest Fire Health Information
During a forest fire, be aware of health risks associated with
Smoke conditions and local air quality levels can change quickly due to the unpredictable nature of forest fires. The location of air monitoring stations and wind direction of smoke can have a major impact on air quality measures like the Air Quality and Health Index. http://www.airhealthbc.ca/
People with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke and should watch for any change in symptoms that may be due to smoke exposure. If any symptoms are noted, affected individuals should take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke and if necessary see their physician. People with symptoms should go to their health care provider, walk in clinic or emergency department depending on severity of symptoms.
Reducing Exposure to Smoke
- Use common sense regarding outdoor physical activity – if your breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity.
- Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.
- Smoke levels may be lower indoors, however levels of smoke particles will still be increased. If you stay indoors be aware of your symptoms.
- Consider visiting a location like a shopping mall with cooler filtered air. Keep in mind that staying indoors may help you stay cool and provide some relief from the smoke, however many air conditioning systems do not filter the air or improve indoor air quality.
- Keep indoor air cleaner by avoiding smoking or burning other materials.
- You may be able to reduce your exposure to smoke by moving to cleaner air. Conditions can vary dramatically by area and elevation.
- Residents with asthma or other chronic illness should activate their asthma or personal care plan.
- Pay attention to local air quality reports, air quality may be poor even though smoke may not be visible.
- Commercially available HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters can further reduce poor indoor air quality near the device.
- More on Air Quality in Interior Health
Smokey Skies and Your Health – 
Questions, Answers and Tips
What to do if you're in the line of fire...
Living With Smokey Skies
Smokey Skies and Your Health: Q&A
Food Safety When the Power is Out
If you are affected by a power outage, there are steps you can take to prevent food spoilage. Drinking water quality can also be compromised from power outages, contact your water supplier if you have questions.
When you lose power
- If a generator powered refrigeration unit is available, transfer food to the unit.
- If a powered refrigeration unit is not available, leave food in the refrigerator or freezer and keep the door closed.
Food safety when the power returns
- Ideally fridge temperatures should remain at 4 degrees Celsius or below and foods in the freezer should remain frozen solid.
- A refrigerator can keep food cool for up to 12 hours and a freezer can keep food safe for days if it is kept closed.
- If you don’t have a thermometer or if you don’t know how long your fridge was without power:
Check the products in the fridge for spoilage and souring. Milk and other dairy products that have gone off/sour are good indicators that the fridge has been off and all food should be discarded.
- If frozen foods have thawed, they may not be safe to eat and must be discarded.
- Food in the freezer that has or may have reached 4C or higher should be discarded and must not re-frozen.
Thawed and refrozen ice cream may be a good indicator that helps to determine whether the freezer has been off. Fish product that is malodorous on thawing is also a good sign.
- If there has been an extended power outage it may be necessary to contact your insurance provider. Make a list of items discarded and photograph these items if possible for insurance purposes.
- Extra precautions should apply to ready to eat foods.
- If in doubt throw it out. Do not take any chances with the safety of your food.
Resources:
Water Quality
Make sure your water is safe. Contact your water supplier or check their web site to see if there is a public notification in place.
Community water systems where fires occur and fire retardants are used in their watershed area will have increased monitoring and scrutiny for changes in water quality. Public notifications will be issued if there is some level of risk or uncertainty associated with drinking water use.
Private surface and ground water sources affected by fire retardant application may show increased levels of nitrates. Fire retardants currently being used in the fire fighting efforts are relatively low risk chemicals to both the environment and to public health Private water systems can be sampled to ensure compliance with the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines for nitrates (45 mg/L nitrate or 10mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen). Sample bottles can be provided by water testing laboratories. To find a lab near you consult your yellow pages under laboratories – analytical.
Resources:
For more information visit HealthLink BC or call 8-1-1, available 24 Hours.
Make sure:
- You have a full tank of gas
- You have enough food for at least 24 to 48 hours
- You have enough bottled drinking water for the same period
- You have any medications you require for the next week
- You have a bottle of bleach for water purification and general clean up
- You have other supplies like a flashlight, batteries, portable radio, diapers and soap
- You have a first aid kit and a charged cell phone
For more emergency preparedness info, please visit the Provincial Emergency Program web site at www.pep.bc.ca
Ministry of Health Services Website
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