Wildfires

• HealthLinkBC: Wildfires and your health
• 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.
• BCCDC: Wildfire smoke 
• First Nations Health Authority: Wildfires

• Interior Health’s Natural Disasters & Emergencies page
• B.C. wildfire dashboard
• 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.
• B.C. map of evacuation alerts and orders
• B.C. air quality health index for your area
• Wildfire smoke and the air quality health index
• Drive BC 
• FireSmoke Canada
• Stay safe and healthy in an emergency - Mental health and stress: If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, you’re not alone. To reduce stress and anxiety, practice these steps.

• PreparedBC: Recovering after a wildfire
• Red Cross: home fires

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

• How smoke affects you

The following documents provide information that may assist operators to address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after wildfire events:

Follow your emergency plan.

• Fire retardants in source water: Precautions to take when water and food supplies have been affected by fire retardants
• Information for water suppliers impacted by emergency events: Detailed document outlining precautions to take and procedures to follow when assessing water systems for damage after an emergency event, and how to get systems back up and running, while meeting safety requirements.
• Wildfire: Its effects on drinking water quality: How wildfires can impact water sources used for our drinking water and what you can do.

The following documents provide information that may assist food service operators address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after wildfire events:

Follow your emergency plan.

• Food safety and reopening your business after a wildfire: Steps to take and procedures to follow to ensure that your building, equipment, supplies and food are safe and meet requirements to resume operations after a wildfire.
• Power outages at food facilities: Food safety considerations for operators after a power outage (e.g., following a wildfire event and power shut-down/evacuation).
• BCCDC Wildfire Smoke: Information on Wildfire smoke, health effects, portable air cleaners, home-made box air fan filters, face masks, and exercise.
• Fire retardants in source water: Precautions to take when water and food supplies have been affected by fire retardants
• Drinking water public notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and food preparation and service. Wildfires will often result in public water advisories.
• Current public water notifications: Searchable database identifying public water systems that are on a boil water notice, water quality advisory or other water notification.

The following documents provide information to assist long-term care and childcare operators address, remediate and manage operations to ensure public health safety, during and after wildfire events:

Follow your emergency plan.

• Fire retardants in source water: Precautions to take when water and food supplies have been affected by fire retardants.
• Drinking water and use notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and food preparation and service. Floods and landslides will often result in public water advisories.
• Power outages at food facilities: Food safety considerations for facilities providing food services, after a power outage (e.g., following a wildfire event and power shut-down/evacuation).
• Air shelters during wildfires: Information to consider regarding air filtration systems to protect respiratory health during and after wildfire events.
• Face masks for wildfire smoke (BCCDC) : How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke by using face masks.
• Caring for Seniors in Long-Term Care in an Emergency (HealthLink BC): Preparing for and responding to hazards requires consideration of the needs of seniors, especially those in long-term care facilities.

The following documents and links provide information on air quality and wildfire-related issues. For information related to your specific health situation, contact your local physician.

Local governments operating a food facility should refer to the Food Service Providers section above for specific food facility operations information.

• BCCDC wildfire smoke: Information on wildfire smoke, health effects, portable air cleaners, home-made box air fan filters, face masks, and exercise.
• Smoky skies: Frequently asked questions on how to protect one’s health during smoky events.
• Wildfire: Its effects on drinking water quality: How wildfires can impact water sources used for our drinking water and what you can do.
• Fire retardants in source water: Precautions to take when water and food supplies have been affected by fire retardants.
• Current public water notifications: Searchable database identifying public water systems that are on a boil water notice, water quality advisory or other water notification.
• Water well disinfection: Provincial guide on Water Well Disinfection using the simple chlorination method
• Labs available for Testing Drinking Water: Water samples should be sent to a qualified laboratory for testing. (Open the current “PHO Approved Laboratory List” for a list of qualified labs).
• Food safety after a fire: Basic food safety information for homeowners, outlining what foods to discard and what foods may be kept.
• Community Evacuation Information for Seniors (HealthLink BC): Preparing for and responding to hazards requires special consideration of seniors’ needs. Seniors who live alone or are sick or disabled will need special support and an emergency plan.