FireSmoke.ca

FireSmoke.ca is a public portal developed by the Weather Forecast Research Team at the University of British Columbia that provides wildland fire weather and smoke information for Canada. It addresses the need for accessible, research-grade data and forecasts to support decision-making around wildfire smoke impacts on air quality, health, safety, and emergency management.

The portal offers several key tools and data services. BlueSky Canada smoke forecasts provide high-resolution, interactive predictions of ground-level PM2.5 concentrations from wildfires. The SmartFire module is a GIS database that integrates satellite hotspot detects and ground reports for use in modelling systems. The BlueSky Playground is an on-demand smoke modelling tool that allows users to create emissions scenarios for prescribed burns and wildfires and view the resulting smoke dispersion; a Full version with comprehensive fuel data and an expert mode is available alongside an Express version. Fire Weather Index forecasts are also provided using gridded numerical weather prediction data.

The platform is designed for professionals in air quality, health and safety, emergency management, and scientific research, as well as the general public. The website does not mention a free plan, trial, or specific pricing editions; the tools and data appear to be publicly accessible as part of a research initiative supported by multiple agencies.