Heat and smoke readiness for community leaders

Heat is a major weather-related cause of death in Canada. Even a few days of extreme heat can result in serious health outcomes. Climate forecasts suggest that summers in the Interior Health (IH) region will become hotter, with longer and more frequent heat events. 

Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to a range of health effects, including throat and nose irritation, worsening of lung and heart conditions, and premature death. It’s important to take steps to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. 

There may also be times when heat events are complicated by smoke from wildfires. If extreme heat occurs during an air quality warning, community leaders should prioritize actions that support cooling.  

• Older adults (over 65 years of age) 
• Infants and young children
• Pregnant people
• People with mental health conditions
• People with chronic poor health, heart problems or breathing difficulties
• People who are unhoused
• People who live alone or are socially isolated
• People experiencing a substance use disorder
• Outdoor workers 
• People with low income

The IH Healthy Communities Program and Office of the Chief Medical Health Officer are available to support community planning related to heat and wildfire smoke. Your regional Healthy Communities team member can be contacted at healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca. 

• Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) | BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy |Eligibility includes initiatives that result in resilience to future climate conditions including risk assessments.
• Community Climate Funding | gov.bc.ca | A comprehensive guide to climate action funding opportunities.
• Policy 5.14 Interim Extreme Weather Emergency Task Number Eligibility | Ministry of Environment Management and Climate Readiness | Supports community response efforts by allowing incremental reimbursement during extreme heat/cold warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada or when triggers in local heat/cold plans are met.
• Green Municipal Fund | Climate-Ready Plans and Processes | Climate adaptation strategies, including risk assessment and action plans that enhance community resilience.
• 2025 Plan Healthy Communities Grants | BC Healthy Communities | Supports Indigenous and local governments, including health authorities, to advance policies, programs and strategies aimed at improving health equity, and well-being.

Funding opportunities for community members: 

• Eligible Home Health clients can apply for free air conditioners through BC Hydro and FortisBC. Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) clients are also eligible through FortisBC.
• Portable air cleaners and filters can be claimed as a medical expense with a prescription by those with chronic respiratory or immune illnesses.   

The IH Healthy Communities Program and Office of the Medical Health Officers are available to support community planning related to heat and wildfire smoke. Your assigned Healthy Communities team member can be contacted at healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca.

• Support the development of community heat and wildfire smoke preparedness and response plans.

• Monitor, support, and offer heat check-ins for IH clients and patients, many of whom are among the most vulnerable to heat and smoke-related illness.

• Participate in regional briefing calls with local governments and First Nations to provide public health advice.

• Share heat and wildfire smoke warnings, and broadcast public health messages about the prevention of heat and smoke-related illness. 

• Provide public health messages to share through community heat and wildfire smoke response communications. 

• Assist with identifying and applying for relevant project funding opportunities. 

• Deliver public health messages, create resources, and collaborate with local school districts to help schools and childcare facilities prepare for wildfire smoke events and extreme heat events. 

• Provide (where applicable) public health surveillance data from previous heat and smoke events to inform decision making. 

• Refer eligible Home Health clients for funding for free air conditioners through BC Hydro and FortisBC.
• Refer eligible Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) clients for funding for free air conditioners through BC Hydro.
• Connect local government staff with resources for DIY air cleaner workshops.  
• Develop and implement IH organizational heat and air quality response plans.

Email ihextremeweatherresponse@interiorhealth.ca.

Page updated May, 2025.