The province has extended the smoky skies bulletin for much of Vancouver Island and southern B.C. for a third day due to wildfire smoke from the United States.
Wildfires are continuing to burn across the U.S. west coast. Dozens of large fires in Washington state, Oregon and California are causing poor air quality, evacuations and severe damage. King 5 in Seattle is reporting more than 330,000 acres burned in Washington in 24 hours.
According to the province, in B.C., wildfire smoke concentrations have continued to drop over the past 24 hours except for a few isolated areas. However, smoke forecast models indicate the potential for “intermittent long-range transport of smoke” from the United States in the next day.
With falling temperatures overnight, temperature inversions in mountain valleys can increase the likelihood of smoke being trapped near the ground.
The affected areas under the smoky skies bulletin (special air quality statement) include parts of Vancouver Island, the Coastal Mainland, the Okanagan, Kootenays and Boundary.
Localized impacts from the Talbott Creek, Woodbury Creek, and Doctor Creek fires in B.C. also continue to be expected.
The areas under B.C.s smoky skies bulletin on Sept. 10, 2020. Photo courtesy of Province of BC
All of the following regions under a Smoky Skies Bulletin:
- Arrow Lakes – Slocan Lake includes Slocan, New Denver, Nakusp, and Fauquier
- Boundary includes Grand Forks, Midway and Greenwood
- Central Okanagan includes Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna and Peachland
- East Kootenay (North) includes Edgewater, Invermere, Canal Flats and Skookumchuck
- East Kootenay (South) includes Kimberley, Cranbrook, Yahk, Moyie, Wasa Lake Provincial Park, Jaffray, Grasmere and Roosville
- Duncan extends from Ladysmith to Shawnigan Lake
- East Vancouver Island (central) includes Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Coombs, Qualicum
Beach, Fanny Bay, Hornby Island - Greater Victoria includes Sidney, Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Metchosin
- Howe Sound includes Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay, Squamish, Bowen Island. There
is some overlap between areas of Metro Vancouver (e.g. Horseshoe Bay, Lions Bay,
Bowen Island) considered part of the Lower Fraser Valley Airshed and the Howe Sound zone used by BC ENV for issuing smoky skies bulletins. A smoky skies bulletin could be issued for the Howe Sound zone before the thresholds are reached to trigger an air quality advisory issued by Metro Vancouver for these overlapping parts of the Lower Fraser Valley Airshed. This should not be interpreted as conflicting information; it reflects the different approaches to notifications about wildfire smoke within the two agencies. - Inland Vancouver Island includes Lake Cowichan, Nahmint, Port Alberni, central portions of Strathcona Park and Schoen Lake Provincial Park
- Kootenay Lake includes Creston and Kaslo
- Nanaimo includes Cedar, South Wellington, and Cassidy
- North Okanagan includes Vernon, Armstrong, Enderby, Lavington and Lumby
- Similkameen includes Princeton
- South Okanagan includes Penticton, Summerland, Naramata, Keremeos, Oliver and Osoyoos
- Southern Gulf Islands includes Southern Gulf Islands
- Sunshine Coast (south) includes Sechelt, Gibsons, and Earls Cove
- West Kootenay includes Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Rossland
- West Vancouver Island includes Tofino, Uclulet, Port Renfrew, Sooke
- Whistler includes Whistler and Pemberton
The B.C. government said is reminding people that during a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour.
It is important to be mindful that exposure to smoke may affect your health, the government said.
People with pre-existing health conditions, respiratory infections such as COVID-19, older adults, pregnant women and infants, children, and sensitive individuals are more likely to experience health effects from smoke exposure.
During smoky conditions, people should:
- Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you feel
unwell. - Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.
- If you have asthma or other chronic illness, carry any rescue (fast-acting) medications with you at all times and activate your personal care plan that has been designed with your family physician.
- Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves follow the same advice.
- Monitor conditions. People respond differently to smoke. Mild irritation and discomfort are common and usually disappear when the smoke clears.
- Exposure to wildfire smoke and the virus that causes COVID-19 can both result in respiratory symptoms such as a dry cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing. Use the BC COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool to help determine whether you need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.
- If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC at 811.
- If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your health care provider, walk-in clinic, or emergency department.
- If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
- Smoke levels may be lower indoors but will still be elevated, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
- Running a commercially available HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter can improve indoor air quality in the room where the device is located.
- If you have a forced-air heating/cooling system in your home, it may help to change the filter and set the fan to run continuously.
- Reduce indoor air pollution sources such as smoking, burning incense, and frying foods.
- If travelling in a car with air conditioning, keep the windows up and the ventilation set to recirculate.
- If you are very sensitive to smoke, consider moving to another location with cleaner air, but be aware that conditions can change rapidly.
- Maintaining good overall health is a good way to prevent health effects resulting from short-term exposure to air pollution.
Special weather statement continues
A special weather statement is still in effect for west Vancouver Island, inland Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, the Southern Gulf Islands and inland Vancouver Island, and east Vancouver Island from Courtenay to Campbell River, Duncan to Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay.
According to Environment Canada, an upper ridge of high pressure is drawing warm air northward from the United States. Temperatures will peak today through Friday with daytime highs that are 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal for this time of year. Overnight lows will also be up to 5 degrees warmer than seasonal in some areas.
Alexa Huffman
