The Stress Associated With Forest Fires
Wildfire season can change the feeling of a community almost overnight.
One day, you’re going about your normal routine.
The next, you’re watching smoke rise over the mountains, checking evacuation alerts, following fire updates, and wondering whether the situation could change.
For people living in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, and throughout the Okanagan, wildfire season can bring a unique kind of stress.
Even when your home isn’t directly threatened, the uncertainty can be exhausting.
You may find yourself constantly checking updates, worrying about family members, thinking about your home, or wondering what you would do if an evacuation order came.
That stress is real.
Why Wildfires Create So Much Anxiety
Wildfires are difficult because there is often a lot you cannot control.
You can’t control the wind.
You can’t control where a fire moves.
You can’t always know what tomorrow will look like.
That uncertainty can keep your mind searching for answers.
You may repeatedly check:
- Fire maps
- Weather forecasts
- Emergency alerts
- Social media
- News reports
- Evacuation information
Staying informed is important.
However, constantly monitoring the situation can also keep your body and mind in a state of heightened alert.
Your Body May React Before You Realize You’re Stressed
Wildfire stress isn’t only about worrying.
Your body may respond too.
You might notice:
- Trouble sleeping
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Racing thoughts
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling restless
- Changes in appetite
- Feeling constantly on edge
These reactions can happen because your brain is trying to keep you prepared for danger.
If you’ve experienced previous wildfires or evacuations, your response may be even stronger.
A new fire, smoke in the air, or an emergency alert can bring back memories from an earlier experience.
Smoke Can Make Everyday Life Feel Different
Wildfire smoke creates another layer of stress.
When air quality is poor, normal activities may have to change.
You may stay indoors.
Outdoor exercise may stop.
Plans with friends may be cancelled.
Children may spend more time inside.
You may worry about older family members or people with health concerns.
After several days, the disruption itself can become emotionally tiring.
It’s difficult to feel normal when the environment around you doesn’t feel normal.
The Fear of Evacuation
Even an evacuation alert can create significant stress.
You may start thinking about what you would take with you.
What happens to your pets?
Where would you go?
What about work?
What if roads become crowded?
What if you can’t reach someone you love?
Preparing an emergency plan can help because it gives you something concrete to focus on.
You don’t need to spend every moment thinking about worst-case scenarios.
Instead, create a simple plan and return your attention to the present.
When Previous Wildfires Come Back
For people who experienced serious wildfires in the past, wildfire season can bring back difficult memories.
This can happen even when the current fire is far away.
You may notice yourself becoming unusually alert when you smell smoke.
An emergency notification may cause your heart to race.
You may have trouble sleeping because part of you is waiting for another evacuation.
These responses don’t mean you’re weak.
They can be signs that your nervous system remembers what happened before.
Our article on Living in Survival Mode explores what can happen when the body continues operating as though danger is always nearby.
How to Reduce Wildfire-Related Stress
You cannot eliminate wildfire uncertainty.
You can, however, reduce the amount of time your mind spends living in the future.
Stay Informed Without Constantly Checking
Choose a few reliable sources for emergency information.
Check them regularly, but give yourself permission to step away from your phone afterward.
You don’t need to watch every update to be prepared.
Prepare What You Can
Having a basic emergency plan can create a greater sense of control.
Know where important documents are.
Think about what you would take if you needed to leave.
Make sure you know how you would care for pets.
Preparation can turn some uncertainty into action.
Stay Connected
Stress becomes harder to carry when you’re isolated.
Call someone.
Check on a neighbour.
Spend time with family.
Talk about how you’re feeling rather than assuming you have to keep everything to yourself.
Keep Some Normality
Wildfire season can disrupt routines, but keeping small parts of your normal life can help.
Eat regular meals.
Maintain your sleep routine.
Find indoor activities you enjoy.
Take breaks from wildfire coverage.
Your mind needs moments where it isn’t focused on danger.
When Stress Doesn’t Go Away
Some stress during wildfire season is understandable.
But sometimes the effects continue long after the immediate threat has passed.
You may find yourself constantly on edge, struggling to sleep, avoiding certain places, feeling emotionally numb, or experiencing strong anxiety whenever you see smoke.
That’s when it may be worth talking with someone.
Counselling can provide a place to process what happened, understand your reactions, and develop ways to feel safer and more grounded.
If wildfire experiences have left you feeling constantly alert or overwhelmed, our article on Nervous System Overwhelm may also be helpful.
A Community-Wide Experience
Wildfires affect more than the people whose homes are directly threatened.
They affect entire communities.
Families worry about one another.
Businesses worry about employees and customers.
First responders work long hours.
Neighbours check on neighbours.
People remember previous fires and wonder whether this year will be different.
There can also be grief for places that have been damaged or lost.
Recognizing that emotional impact is important.
You don’t have to minimize your experience simply because someone else has been affected more directly.
A Gentle Next Step
Wildfire season can bring a lot of uncertainty to life in the Okanagan.
If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, or unable to relax because of wildfire concerns, you don’t have to manage those feelings alone.
Counselling can provide a safe space to process wildfire-related stress, previous experiences, and the uncertainty that comes with living through fire season.
If you’re in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, or elsewhere in the Okanagan, Contact Orchard Valley Counselling if you’d like to explore whether counselling could help.