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Tuesday August 18, 2026 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted 10:33 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today three BC ministries — Health, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and Forests — provided an update on on wildfire and smoke conditions in British Columbia.
This is the first wildfire season update that has included Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry.
Subject matter experts from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the BC Wildfire Service were available for questions.
Conditions remain dry, which contributes to the conditions for wildfires to start. Wildfire seasons are expected to be longer and more intensive, it was stated by officials today.
Another “four weeks of summer” lie head, it was stated in this morning’s wildfire update. British Columbians are asked to be fire smart and informed.
Health aspects of wildfire smoke:
Effects can be felt even at a distance from the fires, said Dr Bonnie Henry in her opening remarks.
Children are more affected because their lung are small relative to their body weight.
Smoky air can result in throat irritation, headaches, cough and runny eyes which Dr Henry called “short term effects”.
But she says she has “concerns” about long term effects, including how very small PM2.5 particles of from smoke and soot get deep into the lungs and infiltrate to other parts of the body.
People who are more at risk “need to think about things like avoiding outdoor activity,” said Dr Henry. Stay inside, keep doors and windows closed, check filters on heat pumps/furnaces use a HEPA filter if possible. Make portable filters with a household fan and furnace filter.
If it’s too difficult to clean the air through your entire home, focus on keeping one room protected (e.g. a bedroom or family-gathering area), said Dr Henry.
Cool and clean:
Overheating is more dangerous than the wildfire air, says Dr Henry. Cooler, cleaner indoor air is your best protection.
Malls, community centres, and libraries usually have cooled, filtered air.
N95 masks:
She recommends wearing an N95-type mask in smoky areas, which should be well-fitted.The masks shoudl be used for anyone working outdoors in smoky areas.
She highlighted an announcement from a few days ago that N95 masks are being provided free in BC wildfire zones, through the Canadian Red Cross with federal funding.
“Trust your senses,” says Dr Henry. If you see or smell smoke then the PM2.5 will be moderate on the air quality range -– when can first smell smoke.
Watch the full August 18 BC wildfire update on YouTube.
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