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Your Environment

Wildfires

See Current Major Events page for latest wildfire updates for the Interior Health region.

Wildfires can affect your health and safety in many ways. The following provides information on steps you can take to prepare for a wildfire and manage wildfire-related issues.

Please contact your family physician, nurse practitioner, Nation-based health clinician, or other primary care provider for information about your specific health situation.

Preparing for a wildfire

First Nations Health Authority
HealthLinkBC – wildfires and your health
Red Cross first response for emergency and disaster services
PreparedBC.ca: Getting Ready Before a Wildfire - If you're in an area that is prone to wildfire, or you just want to be proactive, there are a number of activities you can complete to prevent or prepare for a wildfire

Air/Smoke Related Resources

Frequently asked questions: Smoky Skies
BC Air Quality Health Index for your area
BC Centre for Disease Control – wildfire smoke and its health impacts
BC Centre for Disease Control – wildfires and COVID-19
HealthLinkBC – particulate matter and outdoor air pollution
FireWork – daily smoke forecast maps

During a wildfire

Information for Evacuees

Health care information and resources for wildfire evacuees

Wildfire News and Information

Interior Health Current Major Events page
PreparedBC.ca: Staying Safe During a Wildfire - If there is a wildfire, the most important thing you can do is heed all evacuation alerts and orders and follow instructions from your band office, municipality, regional district or local authority
BC Wildfires

Emergency Services BC - latest evacuation orders
Drive BC

Audio Clips

Listen to these air/smoke/health tips from Dr. Sue Pollock, Interior Health Medical Health Officer:

How Smoke Effects You

After a wildfire

Recovery Resources

Re-entering your home after a wildfire
Wildfire recovery programs – individual, family, business, agriculture, First Nations
Red Cross: Home Fires

Health Resources

Food safety after a fire
Fire retardants in source water
Wildfire and drinking water quality
Current public water notifications
Assessing sewage disposal systems for damage and repair
Sewage systems and flooding
Coping with a natural disaster - BCDisasterStress.ca
Natural Disaster Health: Mental Health & Stress: If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone. To reduce stress and anxiety, practice these steps

Additional emergency information for

We recognize and acknowledge that we are collectively gathered on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the seven Interior Region First Nations, where we live, learn, collaborate and work together. This region is also home to 15 Chartered Métis Communities. It is with humility that we continue to strengthen our relationships with First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples across the Interior.

Interior Health is committed to the elimination of racism and to Cultural Safety and Humility in our facilities and the communities we serve. Read the Statement on Racism, from the Interior Health Board of Directors.