Outdoor smoke health impacts

Staying safe in bushfire smoke

Follow these tips to stay safe if there's bushfire smoke in your area:

• Stay indoors when there's smoke (unless advised to evacuate).
• Close all windows and doors, and block air vents.
• If you have an air conditioner, use it on the recycle setting at home and in the car.
• Avoid outdoor physical activity when smoke is present.
• Older people, children, and those working near fires are most at risk. If someone is struggling, get help quickly.

Air quality in the ACT

Find out about current air quality and health care advice in the ACT.

Asthma and bushfire smoke

Smoke from controlled burns can trigger asthma and other breathing problems. It's important to be ready and know how to respond if you're exposed to smoke.

Prescribed burns in the ACT are conducted by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service (ACT PCS) Fire Management Unit and the ACT Rural Fire Service.

Prescribed burns help:

• reduce fire hazards
• protect our landscape, water supply and assets
• promote ecological diversity
• improve safety for firefighters by reducing fuel loads.

Prescribed burns usually occur in spring or autumn. They can also happen at other times of the year, if the weather conditions are right. Every effort is made to conduct burns in weather that minimises smoke impacts on residents. Fire managers monitor the weather to ensure the burns don't harm the community.

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