Markham, 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 Markham, ON Forest Wildfire & Smoke Map Today: Local Air Quality Tracking & Indoor Protection Solutions
The live, interactive wildfire map at the top of this page shows active fires, new fire detections from the past 24 hours and satellite-detected smoke over Markham and the rest of Ontario. We built this guide around the question Markham residents ask on a hazy day: is something burning nearby, or is this smoke from far away? Almost always, it's the second. Check the map, then use this guide to read the official numbers and protect your indoor air.
TL;DR
Markham is a smoke city, not a fire city. The haze over Unionville and Markham Centre almost always drifts in from distant fires, as it did in July 2026 from northwestern Ontario. Use the Filterbuy Canada map for fires and smoke and the Toronto East and Toronto North AQHI for what you are breathing. On smoky days, close up, set the furnace fan to "On", use a MERV 13 filter and run a portable HEPA air cleaner in each occupied room.
Key Takeaways
Markham sits outside Ontario's forest fire region, so any fire you see in the city is a 911 call.
On 15 July 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued an orange-level air quality warning for Markham because of smoke from northwestern Ontario wildfires roughly 900 km away.
Markham has no provincial air monitoring station. The closest are Toronto East (13.1 km) and Toronto North (13.4 km).
During a wildfire smoke event, ECCC calculates the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) hourly from fine smoke particles (PM2.5) alone, so readings can rise quickly.
For wildfire smoke, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends an HVAC filter rated MERV 13 or higher, and notes most furnaces can take one if it is replaced often.
Where Can I See a Live Fire and Smoke Map for Markham, ON Today?
Right here. The Filterbuy Canada map at the top of this page covers Markham and all of Ontario. Its fire layers show active fires and detections from the past 24 hours from Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS). Its smoke layer shows satellite-detected smoke from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazard Mapping System.
For where the smoke is heading and what Markham is breathing, pair the map with these official sources:
Fires across Ontario: Ontario's forest fires page links to the province's interactive fire map of active fires, fire danger and restricted fire zones.
Where the smoke is going: ECCC's FireWork forecast maps show expected wildfire smoke (PM2.5) hour by hour for the next 72 hours.
What Markham is breathing now: Air Quality Ontario's AQHI by location gives current Toronto East and Toronto North readings, plus forecast maximums for today, tonight and tomorrow.
Alerts for Markham: sign up for Air Quality Ontario's email air quality warnings for the York - Durham region, or turn on AQHI notifications in ECCC's WeatherCAN app. No smartphone? Air Quality Ontario's recorded line gives current AQHI readings at 1-800-387-7768.
A fire inside the city: call 911 for Markham Fire and Emergency Services.
For the provincial picture, see Filterbuy Canada's live Ontario wildfire and smoke map.
Is There a Forest Fire in Markham Right Now?
Almost certainly not. Markham lies south of the French and Mattawa rivers, outside the northern regions where Ontario manages forest fires. The province tells anyone in that southern zone to call 911 to report a fire. Inside city limits, that call goes to Markham Fire and Emergency Services. The province's 310-FIRE line is for the Northeast and Northwest fire regions.
As of 27 September 2026, Ontario reported 29 active wildland fires, 27 in the Northwest Region and two in the Northeast, with no restricted fire zones in effect. The fire region has recorded 794 fires so far in 2026, against 564 in 2025 and a 10-year average of 691. By our math, this season is running about 15% above that average. Ontario's legislated fire season runs from 1 April to 31 October.
Smoke or Fire? A 30-Second Check
See flames or thick smoke rising nearby? Call 911.
Hazy sky and a smoke smell across the neighbourhood, but nothing's burning nearby? Open the Filterbuy Canada map above and check the smoke layer.
Smoke over the GTA but no fire icons near Markham? It's distant wildfire smoke. Check the Toronto East and Toronto North AQHI.
Reading climbing? Start the Smoke Day Setup below before it peaks.
Why Does Markham Get Wildfire Smoke When No Fire Is Nearby?
Wildfire smoke travels hundreds to thousands of kilometres on the wind, and Markham sits downwind of Ontario's northern forests and Quebec. Smoke can ride high for days, then sink to ground level over the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). That's how Markham can smell smoke and watch its AQHI climb with no fire anywhere in York Region.
The latest example came in mid-July 2026, when almost 850 fires were burning across Canada, more than 180 of them in Ontario. Satellite imagery from 14 July showed winds carrying the smoke southeast over southern Ontario, according to NASA Earth Observatory. On 15 July, the Markham Review reported that Environment Canada had issued an orange-level, high-risk air quality warning for Markham because of smoke from northwestern Ontario wildfires, with a heat warning in effect at the same time.
By Filterbuy Canada's calculation, Thunder Bay, the closest major city to those fires, sits about 910 km in a straight line from Markham's civic centre. That's roughly 70 times the distance to Markham's nearest air monitor. An earlier City of Markham advisory traced smoke to fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario.
Where Does Markham's Air Quality Reading Come From?
Markham has no provincial air monitoring station. Its readings come from Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) stations in neighbouring cities, the closest being Toronto East, 13.1 km away. The number on your phone describes regional air measured kilometres from your street. When we plotted Air Quality Ontario's station coordinates, one detail stood out: Markham sits almost exactly between Toronto East and Toronto North, so neither station speaks for the whole city.
Straight-line distances calculated by Filterbuy Canada from Air Quality Ontario station coordinates. Verified 29 September 2026.
Three habits make the reading more useful when smoke arrives:
Check both Toronto East and Toronto North and go by the higher reading. Markham sits almost equidistant between them, so a plume can reach one first.
Read the forecast maximum, not just the current value. Air Quality Ontario publishes forecast maximums for today, tonight and tomorrow.
Expect faster swings. During a wildfire smoke event, ECCC switches to calculating the AQHI hourly from PM2.5 alone, then returns to its usual three-pollutant formula once the smoke moves away, according to ECCC's AQHI guide.
What Do AQHI Levels Mean in Markham During Wildfire Smoke?
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is Canada's official health-risk scale, running from 1 to 10+. ECCC pairs each band with advice for the general population and for people at risk: children, people over 65 and people with health conditions. Many weather apps show the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) instead, so the table lines the two up.
Health messages from ECCC's AQHI guide. AQI alignment is approximate; the two indices are not directly convertible.
If you experience shortness of breath, wheezing, a severe cough, dizziness or chest pains during a smoke event, contact your healthcare provider. Health Canada's wildfire smoke and your health page covers who is most affected and how to prepare.
Worth knowing: ECCC issues special air quality advisories only once the AQHI reaches 7. If you are sensitive to smoke, set a lower notification level, such as the moderate range (4 to 6), in ECCC's WeatherCAN app.
How Do I Protect My Home's Air When Smoke Reaches Markham?
Official alerts from ECCC and Air Quality Ontario come first. If officials tell you to stay indoors or leave, follow them. Inside, Filterbuy Canada's action line is a U.S. AQI of 100. At that point, we recommend a MERV 13 filter in your furnace or central HVAC, the thermostat fan set to "On", a portable HEPA air cleaner in each occupied room, bedrooms first, and a closed-up house. The AQI 100 trigger and the each-room step are Filterbuy Canada guidance.
No furnace or central air, as in many condos and apartments? Then portable HEPA air cleaners are your main defence.
"Markham's air quality number is measured about 13 km away, and the smoke behind it can start more than 900 km away. Neither number tells you what is in your living room. That is why we built this page around two habits: check both Toronto stations, and set up your home before the haze arrives."
Filterbuy Canada Indoor Air Quality Team
Smoke Day Setup for a Markham Home
Install a MERV 13 filter. The EPA recommends a filter rated MERV 13 or higher during smoke events. It also notes that most furnaces and HVAC systems can take MERV 13 without equipment problems when it's replaced often. Just confirm the size printed on your current filter.
Set the thermostat fan to "On" rather than "Auto" so air is filtered continuously.
Run a portable HEPA air cleaner sized for the room in each occupied room, bedrooms first. Health Canada's rule of thumb: its tobacco smoke CADR should be at least two-thirds of the room's area in square feet, so a 120 sq ft bedroom needs a CADR of 80 or more. Skip ionizers and ozone generators; Health Canada advises against air cleaners that produce ozone.
Close windows and doors while indoor temperatures stay comfortable, and limit exhaust fans when you're not cooking, as the City of Markham advises.
Reduce outdoor air intake. The EPA advises closing the fresh-air intake or switching to recirculate. For a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV), follow the manufacturer's instructions for smoke events.
Don't add particles indoors: skip candles, incense, smoking, frying and vacuuming without a HEPA vacuum.
Check the filter during a smoke event. Replace it when it looks dark brown or black, which can be well before the usual interval, and keep a spare on hand. A Filterbuy Canada subscription can keep the next one on the shelf.
One pattern we noticed in July 2026: the smoke warning arrived with a heat warning, which meant keeping windows shut in the heat. That's when the furnace fan and a clean filter do the most work, while air conditioning keeps the house cool.
Choosing a MERV 13 Filter for Your Furnace
Filterbuy Canada carries MERV 13 Optimal filters, recognisable by their blue colour-coded media inside the signature green frame, in more than 600 sizes, plus custom sizes for non-standard slots, with free shipping to Canada and no minimum. A pleated filter captures smoke particles, not the gases or the smell. The MERV ratings guide explains how the tiers compare.
A filter subscription can time replacements around the long heating season and smoke months, and you can edit, skip or cancel anytime.
Can I Have a Backyard Fire in Markham?
Not without a permit, and in most of the urban area not at all. The City of Markham requires a permit for every open-air fire, including fire pits and chimineas with lids, under By-law 85-97. It does not issue permits south of 17th Avenue and west of 10th Line (Reesor Road).
Apply at least 48 hours ahead. The application fee is $246.00 CAD plus HST, and a permit is needed for each burn.
Only clean wood, brush or vegetation may be burned, over no more than 1.5 square metres at a time.
Propane or natural gas outdoor appliances regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and installed by a licensed contractor do not need a permit.
On smoky days, skipping a wood fire also avoids adding smoke to your neighbourhood.
How We Built This Page
The Filterbuy Canada team checked every figure against its original government source on 29 September 2026, and we link to each one.
We calculated the station distances ourselves from Air Quality Ontario's published coordinates.
We don't fight fires or forecast smoke. We point you to the agencies that do, and focus on the air inside your home.
Supporting Statistics: What the Research Shows
Three U.S. federal findings back the guidance on this page.
1. Distant Smoke Still Drives Emergency Visits
Between April and August 2023, the United States had 19 days of Canadian wildfire smoke.
Asthma-related emergency department visits ran 17% higher than expected.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For Markham: distant smoke still counts.
2. Most Exposure Happens Indoors
Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors.
Outdoor pollution, including wildfire smoke, can get inside.
For Markham: indoor air is where you have the most control.
3. Closed Windows Help, but Filtration Does More
With windows and doors closed, indoor PM2.5 is around 55% to 60% of outdoor levels during smoke.
A high-efficiency HVAC filter with the fan running continuously may cut PM2.5 by about 50%.
Source: EPA.
For Markham: close up first, then filter continuously.
Markham Wildfire and Smoke FAQs
Why does Markham smell like smoke when there is no fire nearby?
Smoke from distant wildfires can travel thousands of kilometres and sink to ground level over the GTA. In July 2026, smoke from northwestern Ontario fires roughly 900 km away led to an orange Air Quality Warning for Markham. Check the smoke layer on the Filterbuy Canada map above, then ECCC's FireWork forecast.
Who do I call if I see a fire in Markham?
Call 911. Markham is outside Ontario's forest fire region, so Markham Fire and Emergency Services handles fires in the city.
When is wildfire smoke most likely in Markham?
Ontario's fire season runs from 1 April to 31 October, and smoke reaching the GTA tends to cluster in summer, when northern fires are most active.
Glossary
AQHI (Air Quality Health Index): Canada's official 1 to 10+ health-risk scale for outdoor air, published by ECCC.
AQI (Air Quality Index): The U.S. 0 to 500 scale used by many weather apps. It comes from the EPA and doesn't convert directly to the AQHI.
PM2.5: Fine particles 2.5 micrometres or smaller, the main component of wildfire smoke.
CWFIS: Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System: A U.S. NOAA product outlining satellite-detected smoke.
FireWork: ECCC's model forecasting wildfire smoke up to 72 hours ahead.
MECP: Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, which runs provincial air monitoring stations.
Air Quality Warning: A colour-coded ECCC alert (yellow, orange or red) for high or rising air pollution.
Ontario fire region: The area north of the French and Mattawa rivers, where Ontario manages forest fires.
MERV 13: A Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value filter rating; the minimum HVAC rating the EPA recommends during wildfire smoke.
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air filtration, used in portable air purifiers.
HRV / ERV: Heat or energy recovery ventilator, which brings outdoor air into many newer homes.