Smoke and Your Health

Smoke from fires makes it difficult to breathe by closing the airways in your lungs. Smoke may affect people with heart or lung conditions (including asthma), children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Don’t drive or walk through areas that are smoky as you won’t be able to see well. Always try to move away from smoke.

Causes of smoky conditions

Smoky conditions may be due to two main causes:

Planned burns - Visit the Forest Fire management web page to see what planned burns are occurring now and in the next ten days
Bushfire, landfill or tyre fires - Visit Forest Fire management web page to see what warning and incidents are occurring locally

To find out more, call the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667 and follow any relevant advice messages.

Reducing the effects of smoke on your health

When you are affected by smoke

If you experience symptoms that may come from smoke go to your doctor or call NURSE-ON-CALL on 1300 60 60 24.

NURSE-ON-CALL puts you directly in touch with a registered nurse for caring, professional health advice around the clock. You may need them when you or someone else you are caring for is:

Feeling unwell
Not sure if you should seek medical help
Away from home or situated a long way from medical help
Requesting advice or information about health services in your area

See your doctor for additional health care.

Smoke from bushfires and planned burns

Use the links below to find out more about the effects of bushfire smoke on your health.

Language	Bushfire Smoke and your Health
English	DHHS	Bushfire smoke and your health
	EPA	Bushfires and public health
	Better Health Channel	Smoke and your health - Video
	Environment Protection Authority	Smoke
Simplified Chinese 简体中文	DHHS	Bushfire smoke and your health
Other Languages	DHHS	Bushfire smoke and your health

Smoke from landfill fires and tyre fires

Landfill is a place that accepts different types of industrial, commercial and household waste. Vehicle tyres are usually stored at specialised tyre dumps.

Landfill and tyre fires can be difficult to put out and may burn for hours and sometimes days.

Smoke from a landfill fire contains fine particles, water vapour and gases including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide. Smoke from a tyre fire is usually thick and black and contains a number of substances, including fine particles, oxides of sulphur, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Other substances may also be present, depending on what is burning.

If you do not need to be in the area, stay away from a landfill or tyre fire. If you live or work near the fire, avoid the smoke as much as possible.

Stay indoors away from the smoke and reduce physical activity. Keep windows and doors closed.

People with a heart or lung condition, including asthma, children (up to 14 years), pregnant women and people over 65 years of age are more sensitive to the effects of breathing in smoke.

If you have a heart or lung condition, take your medication as prescribed. Asthmatics should follow their personal asthma action plan and keep reliever medication on hand.

For regular updates on what you should do, listen to your local emergency radio station or visit VicEmergency.

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