Smoke from B.C. wildfires seeping into coast

HOPE (NEWS 1130) — The heat in B.C. just keeps rising, and the thick smoke which has been enveloping the Interior, thanks to a large number of wildfires, could soon be hitting closer to home for those living in Metro Vancouver.

An air quality advisory was issued for the Fraser Valley and eastern part of Metro Vancouver Friday, as smoke crept into the area, with forecasts suggesting the worst of it to hit on Sunday.

However, the advisory was cancelled Saturday afternoon, as ground level ozone air quality improved due to cooler weather and cloud coverage over the region.

“Metro Vancouver continues to monitor conditions associated with wildfire smoke from fires burning in the interior of B.C. and Washington.,” the cancellation notice reads.

Dr. Benn Biagtan with the BC Lung Association told NEWS 1130 Friday the best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to remain indoors when possible.

If you experience symptoms like shortness of breath or wheezing, you should see a doctor right away, or call 9-1-1 if it’s an emergency.

Related articles:

• Air quality advisory for Fraser Valley, eastern part of Metro Vancouver

• Smoke on the way for B.C.’s South Coast this weekend

• B.C. heat wave: Ferries customers reminded to take extra care while waiting at terminals

• B.C. looking at long-term heat wave responses as high temperatures return

There are around 240 fires continuing to burn across the province as of Saturday morning.

Among them are large fires next to major highways leading out of the Lower Mainland, including next to Highway 3 in Manning Park, along the Coquihalla in Coldwater Provincial Park, and a massive blaze in the Fraser Canyon along Highway 1.

However, at this point, all three of those highways are open.

Since April 1, there have been 1,261 wildfires recorded in BC, which have, in total, scorched around 470,784 hectares.

Sixty evacuation orders have been declared — impacting 3,120 properties — along with about 97 evacuation alerts — which are impacted 18,835 homes.

– With files from Denise Wong