A qualitative content analysis of wildfire smoke preparedness and response plans in the United States and Canada

Andrew Philips , Uthaylah Al-Arab , Tania Busch Isaksen, Anna Reed 

Wildfires in North America have become more frequent and intense in recent years. This increase can be attributed to climate change, which has led to higher temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, creating conditions that favor wildfires. In addition, human activities, such as land development, forest management practices, and the ignition of fires, further contribute to the rising incidence of wildfires, as they increase the likelihood of fire outbreaks in certain areas. Wildfire smoke can cause adverse health impacts, creating an urgent public health concern. Some strategies to reduce wildfire smoke exposure include indoor air filtration, clean air centers, and cancellations of outdoor events when necessary. Wildfire smoke preparedness and response plans (wildfire smoke plans) play a crucial role in coordinating and implementing these strategies across jurisdictions during wildfire smoke events. This study compares wildfire smoke plans developed by jurisdictions and institutions in the United States and Canada, including counties, cities, states, provinces, and universities. We used qualitative content analysis methods to assess the characteristics of 20 wildfire smoke plans. The majority of plans utilize risk reduction strategies such as air quality monitoring, risk communication, and guidance for household-level exposure reduction. Wildfire smoke plans are a relatively new emergency response strategy; as such, a “gold standard” set of plan components has yet to be established. As a result, there were significant variations in the plan components we reviewed. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of existing wildfire smoke plans to identify best practices and gaps. The findings from such evaluations can inform the development of a standardized framework for preparedness and targeted outreach programs for susceptible populations. By grounding future frameworks in evidence from existing plans, jurisdictions can strengthen their wildfire smoke preparedness and response efforts, ultimately protecting public health more effectively.