Smoke
Mitchell Ridge Prescribed Fire 2008, Kootenay National Park © Parks Canada
Note: Parks Canada provides advance information prior to and during prescribed fires, and has a smoke notification list for those who are extremely sensitive to smoke. If you would like advance warning of burning operations in the mountain parks please contact your Fire Communications Officer.
Smoke from prescribed fires and wildfires can be a concern or even a health risk for park visitors and residents and it affects everyone differently. Parks Canada takes people’s health concerns very seriously and our fire specialists work hard to reduce the impact of smoke in all our fire management activities.
Each fire has its own smoke characteristics - the amount and type of smoke depends on a number of factors, including the type of vegetation that is burning, how quickly it burns, the air temperature, humidity and wind.
If you see smoke in the park, it could be from a prescribed fire, but it could also be from wildfires burning in other parts of Canada or the United States. Smoke can travel a long way on air currents and it is not uncommon for smoke originating from wildfires well outside park boundaries in the mountain national parks.
One of the realities of life in the mountain national parks is that it is a fire adapted ecosystem and fires will occur whether we light them or not. By using prescribed fire, we can control the size, timing and rate of burning to reduce the amount and duration of smoke. By lighting during good venting conditions, smoke disperses high into the atmosphere. Taking advantage of approaching wetter weather can shorten the smouldering period of the fire - which means less smoke. Using prescribed fire over time can actually help reduce the chance of large, smoke producing wildfires.
Our ability to forecast and monitor smoke conditions has improved in recent years. Follow these links for important information and bulletins related to smoke.
Smoke forecasting and monitoring:
The Western Canada Blue Sky Forecasting system provides hour by hour forecasts of smoke from forest fires in Alberta and British Columbia (April-September)
Satellite images of fires and smoke dispersal
Air quality and health information:
Alberta:
Air Quality Information (Calgary)
British Columbia:
Air Quality Information
Health Warnings: Health Link Alberta and Alberta Health Advisories
(left) Smoke from the Vermilion wildfire near the Town of Banff © Amar Athwal / 2009
(right) Hoodoo prescribed burn in Yoho National Park © Parks Canada
Fire and Vegetation Management - back to the main page