Wildfire, smoke, preparedness and recovery guides
Practical Canadian guides about AQHI, wildfire smoke, N95 respirators, evacuation terminology, wildfire preparedness, fire-map interpretation, history, careers, recovery, and community support.
Use guides for context, official authorities for decisions
FireRadar explains public information in plain language and links back to official or trusted sources. It is not an emergency authority, medical provider, insurer, or substitute for evacuation instructions, public-health advice, or local wildfire services.
Recovery information that remains useful after the flames are out
Start with safe re-entry, insurance basics, smoke and soot cleanup, mental-health support, rebuilding, and verified ways to help affected communities.
Browse After the Fire guides →What do “out of control,” “being held,” and “under control” mean?
FireRadar already has a dedicated Canadian wildfire status guide. It explains common agency terminology while preserving the important fact that definitions and operational rules can vary by jurisdiction.
Read wildfire status definitions →Smoke and air quality
What does the AQHI mean?
Understand Canada's AQHI scale from 1 to 10+, what low, moderate, high, and very high risk mean, and how wildfire smoke can change air-quality health risk quickly.
When should you wear an N95 for wildfire smoke?
Learn when a well-fitting N95 or equivalent respirator may help reduce wildfire-smoke particle exposure, what it cannot filter, and why fit matters.
Keep wildfire smoke out of your home
Practical steps to reduce wildfire-smoke particles indoors using windows and doors, HVAC filtration, portable air cleaners, and a cleaner-air room.
N95 vs KN95 vs KF94 for wildfire smoke
Compare N95, KN95, and KF94 respirators for wildfire smoke and learn why a close fit is often more important than choosing between reputable high-filtration standards.
How wildfire smoke affects indoor air quality
Learn how wildfire-smoke PM2.5 can enter buildings, why indoor air is not automatically smoke-free, and how filtration and ventilation choices affect exposure.
Preparedness and evacuation
Evacuation alert vs evacuation order
Understand the practical difference between an evacuation alert and an evacuation order in Canada and why local emergency authorities are always the source of truth.
Prepare your home before wildfire season
A practical Canadian wildfire-season preparation checklist covering emergency plans, evacuation readiness, property maintenance, FireSmart actions, and smoke preparation.
Wildfire knowledge
How to read a wildfire map
Learn how to interpret official wildfire incidents, satellite hotspots, fire perimeters, smoke forecasts, AQHI, statuses, timestamps, and evacuation information without mixing unlike datasets.
Canadian wildfire season by province
Understand when wildfire activity is generally most common across Canada, why timing varies by region and year, and where to find official local wildfire information.
History and careers
Canada wildfire statistics by year
Explore how Canadian wildfire counts and area burned vary from year to year, why fire count alone can be misleading, and where to find official national datasets.
Largest wildfires in Canadian history
Learn about some of Canada's largest documented wildfires and burned areas, including why historical rankings depend on data coverage, merged fire complexes, and mapping methods.
Become a wildland firefighter in Canada
A practical overview of how wildland firefighter hiring works in Canada, where to find provincial and territorial jobs, and why requirements vary by agency.
After the Fire
Returning home after a wildfire evacuation
A safety-first checklist for returning after a wildfire evacuation, including official re-entry clearance, utilities, structural safety, food, water, smoke residue, and documentation.
Wildfire insurance basics
General information on contacting your insurer after a wildfire, documenting damage and expenses, understanding additional living expenses, and avoiding assumptions about coverage.
Cleaning smoke residue after a wildfire
Learn how to approach smoke, soot, and ash cleanup after a wildfire while reducing particle exposure and knowing when professional remediation may be appropriate.
Mental health after a wildfire
Understand common stress reactions after wildfire and evacuation, practical ways to seek support, and where to find Canadian mental-health and crisis resources.
Rebuilding after a wildfire
A practical starting point for post-wildfire rebuilding: safety, insurance, permits, contractors, resilient design, documentation, and avoiding rushed decisions.
Support and community
Keep the guides connected to current conditions
Every guide points users back to FireRadar's current map and related tools. On the map, users can save supported provinces, wildfire incidents, and AQHI locations on their device for faster return visits.