Air quality warning in effect for Prince George - January 18, 2026

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The Ministry of Environment and Parks in collaboration with the Northern Health Authority has issued an Air Quality Warning for Prince George due to elevated fine particulate matter.

Exposure to fine particulate matter is particularly a concern for infants, older adults, individuals with chronic conditions (such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes) or respiratory infections, and those who are pregnant. Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions or acute infections should postpone or reduce strenuous exercise until the warning is ended. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as continuing eye or throat irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, cough or wheezing, should follow the advice of their health care provider. Staying indoors helps to reduce exposure.

Current conditions are expected to persist until weather conditions change and/or local emissions are reduced.

The next update will be on January 19, 2026 and posted to the province’s Air Quality Warnings webpage.

Visit the provincial air quality data webpage for real-time observations.

Actions you can take

As air contaminant levels increase, health risks increase. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.

People more likely to be negatively impacted by outdoor air pollution should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. This includes people aged 65 and older, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes, and people who work outdoors.

Follow your common sense

Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you feel unwell.
Always carry any rescue medications with you.
Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves follow the same advice.

Monitor your symptoms

Different people have different responses to elevated levels of air contaminants.
Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough are common, and usually disappear when the air contaminants return to typical levels.
More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.
People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.
If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

Tips to reduce your exposure to air pollution

Air contaminant levels may be lower indoors but will still be elevated, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
Protect your indoor air from outdoor air pollution. Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. Do-it-yourself air cleaners may also be used if other options are unavailable. For more details, see the BC Centre of Control fact sheet.
If you must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to particulate matter. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
Avoid roads with heavy vehicle traffic and areas with wood smoke.

Emission reduction actions

Mandatory actions

Facilities with air discharge authorizations under the Environmental Management Act are required to follow trigger actions within their permit related to Air Quality Warnings and are encouraged to reduce any other emissions where possible.
The City of Prince George’s Clean Air Bylaw prohibits all open burning, including backyard burning, and land clearing burning. During air quality advisories, this bylaw also prohibits recreational fires, use of wood-burning appliances (except for sole wood-burning heat users), and street sweeping activities (unless approved by an Authorized Person).

Voluntary actions

Avoid using wood stoves and fireplaces unless it is the sole heating source. If wood burning is the sole heating source, burn dry, seasoned wood and ensure an adequate supply of combustion air.
Reduce vehicle use where possible and avoid idling vehicles.

More information

Current conditions

Fine particulate matter refers to airborne solid or liquid droplets with diameters of 2.5 micrometers (μm) or less. PM_2.5 levels tend to be highest around busy roads, industrial operations and neighbourhoods with residential wood burning. PM_2.5 can easily penetrate indoors because of their small size. Common sources of PM_2.5 that contribute to episodes of poor air quality vary seasonally but can include wood smoke (from wood stoves and/or open burning) as well as emissions from industry and transportation sources such as automobiles, trucks and rail traffic.

The provincial air quality objective for PM_2.5 is 25 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³) averaged over 24 hours. 24-hour average PM_2.5 concentrations are summarized below for Prince George and nearest monitored communities at 9:00 AM local time today: