Ventilation Index

Get information about B.C's Ventilation Index and the rules on open burning.

On this page

• Check the Ventilation Index
• Understand the Ventilation Index
• Understand smoke sensitivity zones
• Ventilation Index resources

Check the Ventilation Index

The Ventilation Index Interactive Map displays if you can burn and for how long. You can access today's forecast via an automated toll-free telephone line at 1-888-281-2992. 

The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation uses today's 4 pm forecast.

Understand the Ventilation Index

Before you burn, you must check the Ventilation Index which changes daily based on:

• The location in the province
• The atmospheric conditions

The Ventilation Index is a forecast released daily by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

It estimates how well the atmosphere disperses smoke on any given day.

The index is similar to a weather forecast, except it provides information on how well smoke will mix into the air.

To predict ventilation, the index uses both:

• The mixing height of the atmosphere
  • This means, how high smoke will rise
• The wind speed

With a higher mixing height and sufficient wind speeds, smoke should disperse and not impact neighbours.

Forecast categories

The forecast is broken down into Good, Fair and Poor ventilation.

To start a burn in most populated areas of the province, a Ventilation Index of Good is required.

Often in the winter, there are long periods of time where the ventilation index is Poor. During these times, please be patient and check conditions daily. More favourable ventilation is often seen in the fall and spring or ‘shoulder’ seasons of burning.

Understand smoke sensitivity zones

The province is broken into zones that are based on where the most people live.

They are high, medium and low.

The rules you need to follow are different depending on what zone you're in.

To learn more, review the smoke sensitivity zone maps.

Ventilation Index resources

Automated telephone service

An automated telephone service that provides information about the Ventilation Index can be reached by a toll-free phone at 1-888-281-2992.

Ventilation Index Interactive Map

Access the Ventilation Index Interactive Map for the current ventilation forecast and find out if you can burn today at your location.

• If you can burn
• How long you can burn

Forecast widget

The Ventilation Index Forecast Widget allows an organization's website to share an up-to-date forecast for their chosen zone.

Find out how to add this widget to your website. 

Zones

View a static map of Ventilation Index Zones (PDF, 292KB) to determine what zone you live in.

Archived reports

For historical reports, visit the ventilation index archive.