In the summer of 2025, wildfires across Canada burned about 73,000 square kilometres of land – more than double the 10-year national average.

In B.C., that year was less destructive compared to the previous two wildfire seasons, according to the province. Still, wildfires burned roughly 8,860 square kilometres of land.

Now, a new report has found that wildfire smoke is a leading source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in B.C.

“This isn’t a one-time-in-a-life exposure anymore,” said Prem Gundarah, health initiatives manager with the B.C. Lung Foundation, which released its State of the Air report on Monday.