The Regions of BC highlighted on the map are being impacted or are likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24-48 hours.
During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour.
Monitor the situation for any wildfires near your area at EmergencyInfoBC (https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/). Follow all emergency announcements relevant to your location.
The next update will be available on August 06, 2026 and made available on the Province's Air Quality Warnings Page (https://aqwarnings. gov.bc.ca/).
Actions you can take for regions under yellow warning:
Exposure to smoke can affect your health. Postpone or reduce strenuous outdoor activities until the warning has ended. Spend time indoors in a space with cleaner air.
Some people are more likely to be negatively impacted by smoke. This includes people with lung and heart conditions, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people aged 65 and older, and anyone whose health is affected by a chronic condition or acute illness.
During Smoky Conditions:
Follow Your Common Sense:
- Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you feel unwell.
- Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.
- Carry any rescue medications with you at all times.
- Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves follow the same advice.
Monitor Your Symptoms:
- Different people have different responses to smoke.
- Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat irritation, phlegm production, runny nose, headaches or mild cough are common, and usually disappear when the smoke clears.
- More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.
- People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
- If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.
- If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
Tips To Reduce Smoke Exposure:
- Smoke levels may still be elevated indoors, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
- When indoors, keep windows and doors closed. If it is hot, prioritize keeping cool.
- Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Use a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. Do-it-yourself air cleaners may also be used if other options are unavailable. For more details, see the BC Centre for Disease Control Do-it Yourself Air Cleaners fact sheet.
- If your home is smoky or hot, spend time in places with cleaner, air conditioned air such as community centres, libraries, or malls.
- If you must be outside, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
- When in a vehicle, keep windows closed with the air flow (or air conditioning) set to recirculate.
- Check on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke.
- Always follow guidance from local authorities.
Visit https://www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk and your personal contribution to pollution levels, as well as for current and forecast AQHI values.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
Issued by Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks
issued Aug 06, 4:58AM · in effect until Aug 06, 8:58PM · source: Environment and Climate Change Canada
84 µg/m³ measured at Penticton Debeck Road, 2 km away, at Aug 06, 11:00AM. The NowCast smoke average is 100 µg/m³ — Unhealthy on the US EPA scale. Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index nearby is 6.
Everyone may begin to feel health effects; sensitive groups should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
Forecasts show smoke increasing, peaking near 254 µg/m³ within the next 48 hours.
The current smoke should clear by about Aug 07, 7:00PM.
1–3 low · 4–6 moderate · 7–10 high · 10+ very high · Forecast squares are Environment Canada's official AQHI period maximums.
● Observed (hourly) · ● FireSmoke · ● FireWork · ● HRRR
Background bands (US EPA AQI, 24-h basis): ■ Good · ■ Moderate · ■ Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups · ■ Unhealthy · ■ Very Unhealthy · ■ Hazardous
| Model | Peak PM2.5 | Peak around |
|---|---|---|
| FireSmoke (UBC BlueSky) | 13 µg/m³ | Aug 06, 8:00PM |
| FireWork (ECCC) | 254 µg/m³ | Aug 07, 7:00AM |
| HRRR-Smoke (NOAA, 3 km) | 52 µg/m³ | Aug 06, 1:00PM |
Model values are for the ~10 km grid cell nearest Penticton; the two models are independent and often disagree — treat the higher value as the cautious planning number.
Observations and NowCast are total PM2.5 — wildfire smoke plus every other source — as regulatory monitors measure it, and FireWork models that same total. FireSmoke is a smoke-dispersion model: it estimates the wildfire contribution only, so it reads lower than the monitors whenever other sources matter. The map's optional plume layer is likewise fires-only.
Smoke is at the surface and overhead.
● At the ground · ● Overhead (if mixed down)
Overhead smoke dims the sun but is not what you breathe. The dashed line shows the surface level if the whole column mixed through the boundary layer — a worst case, not a forecast · Data: NOAA HRRR-Smoke
19-day record · 2 nearby monitors
| Model | Typical error | Tendency |
|---|---|---|
| FireWork | 15.3 µg/m³ | reads low 7.5 |
| FireSmoke | 68.0 µg/m³ | reads high 38.9 |
Mean absolute error and average tendency in µg/m³, from forecasts verified 0–6 hours ahead at monitors within 50 km. A short-range record, not a measure of how far ahead a model stays reliable. FireSmoke and HRRR model wildfire smoke only, so they read below the monitors whenever other sources of PM2.5 matter.
Open the live chart for Penticton Debeck Road — hourly observations, NowCast and both model forecasts.
See the British Columbia-wide forecast — every monitor, ranked →
More in British Columbia: Vancouver Metro Northwest · Vancouver Metro Southwest · Vancouver Metro Northeast · Vancouver Metro Southeast · Central Fraser Valley · Eastern Fraser Valley · Victoria · Kelowna · Prince George · Kamloops · Vernon · Castlegar · Golden