After the Fire
Returning safely once a fire passes, from waiting for the all-clear to handling ash and looking after mental health.
Do not return home until officials issue an all-clear
Burned-over areas can hide weakened trees, downed power lines and active hot spots for days after the visible flame is gone — the official all-clear is the only reliable signal that a return is safe.
Read more →Treat ash and debris as a health hazard, not a cleanup chore
Wildfire ash is not the same as wood-stove ash — it can contain residues from burnt plastics, treated wood, paints and metals, and Health Canada warns against sweeping it dry or letting kids near it.
Read more →Stress and grief after a wildfire are normal — get support
Disrupted sleep, intrusive thoughts and clingy children are normal reactions to an abnormal event — and 9-8-8 reaches a suicide and crisis line free by call or text in both Canada and the US.
Read more →These articles are the same wildfire safety library that lives inside our free app. Browse every category in the safety library, or open the live map to see current fires and alerts across Western Canada and 18 western US states.