Report any unattended fire or new column of smoke right away
If you see smoke or flame in a forested area and you are not sure whether it is being managed, the right thing to do is call. Wildfire agencies...
If you see smoke or flame in a forested area and you are not sure whether it is being managed, the right thing to do is call. Wildfire agencies across the West would rather take a duplicate report than miss a fire by an hour. In Canada, use the provincial wildfire line (in BC, 1-800-663-5555 or *5555; in Alberta, 310-FIRE / 310-3473); in the US, call 911. Report any unattended campfire, abandoned debris pile that is still smoking, lightning strike with visible smoke, vehicle fire near grass or trees, or new column of smoke from the bush. Do not assume someone else has already called — many large fires were first reported by a single member of the public, and many were missed because everyone assumed it was already known. Get to a safe distance before you call, and do not try to drive through smoke or flames to get a better look. Note the location as precisely as you can — road, kilometre marker, nearest intersection, lake or trailhead — and any landmarks visible from the smoke column. Even an imperfect location is more useful than no call at all.
Many large wildfires were first reported by a single member of the public — and many were missed entirely because everyone assumed someone else had already called.
Source: BC Wildfire Service
Last reviewed 2026-05-02.
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