Greater Sudbury, ON Live Wildfire Smoke Map
Get Alerts For Wildfires In Your Area
The moment a wildfire starts near you, you'll get an instant alert and simple tips to reduce your smoke exposure.
What's In The Smoke
30xSmaller than a human hair
Fine enough to reach deep into the lungs. A MERV 13 is built to capture it.
How Far It Travels
It Doesn't Stay Local
Smoke rides the wind far downwind — you can get smoky air with no fire nearby.
What To Do During A Smoke Event
Simple steps to reduce indoor exposure.
- Stay In, Close UpShut windows and doors to keep smoke out.
- Set Fan To "On"Keeps air cycling through your filter, not just when heating or cooling.
- Recirculate AirSwitch off fresh-air intake so you're not pulling smoke in.
- Run A MERV 13Built to capture the fine PM2.5 in smoke.
- Add A PurifierExtra filtration for the room you use most.
- Wear an N95 if OutsideFits snug to block fine particles — a cloth mask won't.
The Best Air Filter For Wildfire Smoke
During smoke events, the EPA recommends upgrading to a MERV 13 filter — or the highest-rated filter your system can handle — to help reduce the fine particles smoke brings indoors. MERV 13 is the level most home HVAC systems can run while still capturing PM2.5, the fine particulate that makes up the bulk of wildfire smoke.
- Captures PM2.5 particles
- Blocks ash, soot, and smoke odor
- Keeps your indoor air safe—even when the outdoor air is dangerous
- Meets the EPA's recommended rating for filtering fine wildfire smoke particles.
Wildfire Smoke FAQs
Facts About Wildfires
Over 70,000 wildfires burn in the U.S. every year.
Wildfire smoke can travel 1,000+ miles, affecting states that aren't even near the blaze.
Exposure to wildfire smoke can worsen asthma, trigger heart issues, and lead to ER visits.
Indoor air can hold more fine particles during wildfire events unless it's properly filtered.
The EPA advises using MERV 13 filters or portable HEPA air cleaners during wildfire smoke events.
Don't Wait Until The Smoke's Inside.
Use the live wildfire smoke tracker and upgrade your air filters today to protect your lungs and your home.
Shop Filters For Smoke Protection
Live Greater Sudbury, ON Forest Wildfire & Smoke Map Today: Local Air Quality Tracking & Indoor Protection Solutions
TL;DR
The live map at the top of this page shows active forest fires, smoke and local air quality for Greater Sudbury, Ontario, today. The city spans more than 3,100 square kilometres but has one provincial air monitoring station, so read the map's smoke layer alongside the official Sudbury AQHI. When the map's AQI passes 100, Filterbuy recommends a MERV 13 furnace filter, the fan set to On, a portable HEPA air cleaner in each occupied room and a closed-up house.
Key Takeaways
The live Greater Sudbury wildfire and smoke map above this article updates throughout the day.
Greater Sudbury's only Air Quality Ontario station sits downtown; the next closest are about 121 km away (North Bay) and 148 km away (Parry Sound), by our calculation.
Ontario's fire season runs from 1 April to 31 October, so smoke can still arrive after furnaces switch on.
Health Canada recommends a filter rated MERV 13 or higher to remove fine particles during wildfire smoke events.
Pleated furnace filters capture particles, not gases; official health guidance always comes first.
How to Read the Live Greater Sudbury Wildfire and Smoke Map
The interactive map at the top of this page is a live fire and smoke map for Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It shows in one view whether wildfire smoke is over the city today and how thick it is.
We built it so residents from Capreol to Lively don't have to piece together five government sites. To read it:
1. Find Greater Sudbury on the map, then zoom out until you can see the surrounding districts.
2. Look for fire markers first. A marker shows an active fire; it doesn't mean that fire threatens the city.
3. Check the smoke layer and the AQI reading against the map legend. Denser shading means more smoke in the air.
4. Compare it with the official Sudbury AQHI forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada before planning time outdoors.
5. Refresh the current fire map for Greater Sudbury a few times a day when smoke is forecast, since wind can shift a plume within hours.
Which Fire and Smoke Map Should Greater Sudbury Residents Check?
Use the Filterbuy live map for a quick view, then check the official source for each question below.
Greater Sudbury Fire and Smoke Tools Compared
Checked 7 October 2026.
One Air Monitor for 3,100 Square Kilometres: What Our Station Check Found
Greater Sudbury is the largest municipality in Ontario by area, at more than 3,100 square kilometres and 330 lakes, according to the City of Greater Sudbury. All of that land relies on a single provincial air monitoring station for its official air quality reading.
When we researched this page, we traced where that reading comes from. The Air Quality Ontario Sudbury station (ID 77233) sits at Applegrove Street and Birch Street in the urban core. We then measured the straight-line distance to the next nearest stations using the coordinates Air Quality Ontario publishes:
North Bay station: about 121 km east of the Sudbury station.
Parry Sound station: about 148 km south of the Sudbury station.
That gap matters far from the core. A plume can settle over a northern or western community while downtown reads cleaner, or the reverse. If you live in Capreol, Levack, Whitefish or at a lakeside camp, treat the Sudbury AQHI as a regional reading and use the live smoke map for your neighbourhood.
One local detail: the Sudbury station also measures sulphur dioxide, but only ozone, fine particles and nitrogen dioxide go into the AQHI, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Fine particles are the part of the AQHI that wildfire smoke pushes up.
What Do Greater Sudbury AQHI Levels Mean During Wildfire Smoke?
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is Canada's 1 to 10+ scale for health risk from air pollution. Environment and Climate Change Canada groups it into four bands: Low risk (1 to 3), Moderate risk (4 to 6), High risk (7 to 10) and Very High risk (above 10).
Fine particles, called PM2.5 (particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller, tiny enough to reach deep into the lungs), are the main health risk from wildfire smoke, according to Health Canada.
At High risk (7 to 10), Air Quality Ontario advises:
General population: consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities if you have symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation.
At-risk population: reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities, and children and older adults should take it easy.
Health Canada lists people with lung or heart conditions, adults 65 and older, young children, pregnant people and outdoor workers as more likely to be affected. If you have asthma, COPD or a heart condition, follow the plan set with your health care provider. If officials issue an air quality statement or evacuation notice, follow their instructions first.
What to Do When the Map Shows Smoke Over Greater Sudbury
Filterbuy's action line is AQI 100 on the live map. AQI 100 is the top of the U.S. Moderate category, and we treat it as the point to move rather than wait. At that line, homes with central heating or air conditioning should take four steps in order.
Health Canada's guidance for cleaner air spaces recommends a filter rated MERV 13 or higher to remove fine particulate matter during wildfire smoke events.
1. Put a MERV 13 filter in the furnace or air handler. This is the whole-home layer. Confirm the size printed on your current filter, the same fit check as any replacement. Filterbuy carries MERV 13 air filters in over 600 sizes.
2. Set the thermostat fan to On. Auto only filters when the system is heating or cooling; On keeps air moving through the filter.
3. Run a portable HEPA air cleaner in each occupied room, bedrooms first. Health Canada says smoke CADR (clean air delivery rate) should be at least two-thirds of the room's area, so a 28 square metre (300 sq ft) bedroom needs a smoke CADR near 200. Skip any device that produces ozone.
4. Close the house up. Keep windows and doors shut, and skip candles, frying, smoking and vacuuming without a sealed unit.
No ductwork? In apartments, baseboard-heated homes and many lakeside camps, portable HEPA air cleaners are the main defence, not an add-on.
Two Layers of Indoor Smoke Filtration Compared
Sizing rule: Health Canada. AQI 100 action line and each-room recommendation: Filterbuy.
During smoke events, check your furnace filter often and replace it when it looks visibly dark, which can be well before the usual interval. Our guide on when to change an air filter after wildfire smoke shows what a loaded filter looks like. For lingering smell after the air clears, see the Filterbuy smoke recovery checklist.
Why October Matters in Greater Sudbury: Fire Season Meets Furnace Season
Ontario's legislated fire season runs from 1 April to 31 October, according to the Ontario forest fires page. In Greater Sudbury, that window overlaps the first weeks of furnace use.
That overlap is the planning point we want Sudbury households to take away. A filter that sat through a smoky summer may already be loaded before the heating season. Before the first cold night, pull it and look. If it's grey or dark, replace it before the furnace runs for months.
The 2026 season showed why the habit pays off. On 14 July 2026, the City of Greater Sudbury declared a fire ban because of heat and dry conditions, cancelling all open-air fire permits. Check the city's Fire Services page for the current status before any outdoor burn.
A spare MERV 13 filter in the basement takes the scramble out of the next smoky week. A Filterbuy air filter subscription ships on a one-, two- or three-month schedule that you can edit, skip or cancel anytime.
"When we looked into where Greater Sudbury's air quality number comes from, we found one station in the urban core serving a city of more than 3,100 square kilometres. That's why I tell readers in Capreol, Whitefish and the camps around Lake Wanapitei to read the smoke layer on the map alongside the AQHI, and to have a MERV 13 filter on the shelf before the season starts."
Michelle Wan, Brand Manager and Air Quality Writer, Filterbuy Canada
Supporting Statistics
Three figures from Canadian government sources show why fire and smoke tracking matters.
1. Ontario fires are above average in 2026.
798 forest fires recorded in Ontario as of 5 October 2026.
The 10-year average is 700. The 2025 total was 595.
2. Smoke carries a measurable health burden in Canada.
Long-term wildfire smoke exposure contributed to up to 2,500 deaths per year in Canada (2013 to 2018).
Short-term exposure contributed to up to 240 deaths per year.
Source: Health Canada, Human health effects of wildfire smoke report summary
3. Canada is burning more land each year.
Average area burned: 2,129,795 hectares per year from 2005 to 2022.
Including 2023 and 2024, the average rose to 2,892,068 hectares, a 35.8% increase.
Source: Library of Parliament, HillNotes
Greater Sudbury Fire and Smoke Resources
Report a forest fire: Ontario lists 310-FIRE (3473) for the Northeast Region, north of the French and Mattawa rivers. Call 911 for any fire that threatens people or property.
Burn permits: Greater Sudbury open-air burning permits need at least three working days' notice.
Portable air cleaner guidance: Health Canada on using a portable air cleaner.
Nearby: the live North Bay wildfire and smoke map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a live wildfire map for Greater Sudbury today?
Yes. The live Greater Sudbury wildfire and smoke map at the top of this page updates throughout the day. Ontario's forest fires page is the official source for fire status and restrictions.
Is the Sudbury AQHI accurate for my neighbourhood?
The Sudbury AQHI comes from one provincial station at Applegrove Street and Birch Street. It is the official reading, but outlying communities can differ, so check the live map's smoke layer too.
What MERV rating do I need for wildfire smoke in Greater Sudbury?
MERV 13. Health Canada recommends a filter rated MERV 13 or higher during smoke events. Filterbuy's trigger is simple: switch when the map's AQI passes 100. Compare tiers in our MERV 11 vs. MERV 13 guide.
Can I put a HEPA filter in my furnace?
No. True HEPA filters belong in portable air cleaners and sealed units, not residential furnace slots. Use MERV 13 in the furnace and HEPA in the room. Our HEPA ratings explainer breaks down the labels.
Will a furnace filter remove the smoke smell?
No. Pleated filters capture particles, while odour is a gas. For lingering odours, Filterbuy carries an Odour Eliminator carbon filter, and surface cleaning matters too.
Glossary
AQHI (Air Quality Health Index): Canada's 1 to 10+ scale that rates health risk from ozone, fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, published by Environment and Climate Change Canada.
AQI (Air Quality Index): The U.S. 0 to 500 air quality scale; 100 is the top of its Moderate category.
CADR (clean air delivery rate): A rating of how much filtered air a portable air cleaner delivers, rated separately for smoke.
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air): A filter standard for portable air cleaners that removes at least 99.97% of 0.3-micron particles.
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value): The rating scale for furnace and air conditioning filters; MERV 13 captures finer particles than MERV 8 or MERV 11.
PM2.5: Fine particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller, the main health concern in wildfire smoke.
Final Thoughts: Watch the Map, Prepare the House
Smoke can reach Greater Sudbury with little warning, and one downtown station can't see every neighbourhood. Bookmark this live map, check the official AQHI, and get a MERV 13 filter in place before the next plume. Find your size in Filterbuy MERV 13 air filters, with free shipping to Canada.