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Wildfires

Wildfires can affect your health and safety in many ways. The following information provides steps that you can take to prepare for a wildfire and manage wildfire-related issues. Please contact your health-care provider for information about your specific health situation.

For current information on wildfires, refer to the BCWS Wildfires Map or visit EmergencyInfoBC which provides news on evacuation alerts and orders, and emergency support services and reception centres.

Before a wildfire

Wildfires and Your Health | HealthLinkBC
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.
Wildfire Smoke | BC Centre for Disease Control
Wildfire Response | First Nations Health Authority

During a wildfire

Latest Wildfire News

Visit our Media Centre & Alerts page Visit the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website

Long-Term Care Home Evacuations

Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents. Visit our Media Centre & Alerts for up-to-date information.

Interior Health has established a phone line where families can receive updates on the location of their loved ones who have been evacuated from long-term care homes. That number is: 1-833-469-9800. Hours of Operation will be Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please leave a message afterhours for a call back.

Call long-term care home evacuation line

BCCDC Guidance on Masks for Wildfire Smoke

View the BCCDC Guidelines

Maps & Air Quality Indexes

Web Resources

Government of British Columbia:
- Tips on staying safe during a wildfire
- Tips on staying safe and healthy in an emergency
Interior Health's Natural Disasters & Emergencies section
FireSmoke Canada

After a wildfire

Recover after a wildfire
Returning to your home after a wildfire
Returning to your home after a wildfire | First Nations Health Authority
How to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke and protection from ash indoors
Home Fires: Before, During & After | Red Cross

Drinking water operators

Any water systems in the Interior Region that experience disruption to regular operations, such as loss of treatment, loss of pressure, loss of power, loss of source or loss of system integrity should implement their emergency response procedures immediately. This includes issuing public notifications such as boil water notices, water quality advisories or do not use orders, as appropriate.

Prior to resuming normal operations, water suppliers should undertake remedial actions such as flushing, disinfection and resampling as required.

Resources

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.

Food service providers

Resources

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.
Fact Sheet BCCDC: Health and safety around fire retardants/suppressants
Drinking water public notifications: General information on drinking water notifications and what food premise operators need to know. 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.

Long-term care and childcare facilities

Resources

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 | HealthLinkBC | Preparing for and responding to hazards requires consideration of the needs of seniors, especially those in long-term care facilities.

Local governments & public

Resources

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.
HealthLink BC: Wildfire: Its effects on drinking water quality
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 | A list of labs approved by the the public health authority officer for drinking water microbiology testing
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 | HealthLinkBC | 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.
Fact Sheet BCCDC: Health and safety around fire retardants/suppressants
Interior Health's Sewerage, Subdivisions & Healthier Industries webpage: To find an Authorized Person to repair an onsite sewerage system or to locate an On-Site Sewage Record