As wildfires trigger evacuation orders, Vancouver's air quality could get a lot worse
As two out-of-control wildfires burn up in the Fraser Canyon, Metro Vancouver’s air quality could get a lot worse.
This morning, Metro Vancouver Regional District released an air quality update, saying that “an air quality warning is possible, if conditions worsen.”
They said that eastern parts of the Fraser Valley are being impacted by smoke from the wildfires close to Boston Bar and Hope, and that parts of Metro Vancouver are “experiencing hazy conditions.”
“Fine particulate matter (air pollution particle) measurements are slightly higher than usual across the region, especially in the eastern parts, but remain below air quality warning thresholds,” reads the air quality update.
However, they added that with winds forecast to shift direction later today, it could push the smoke away from the region and improve air quality.
“Wildfire and smoke behaviour can change quickly, and Metro Vancouver staff are keeping an eye on conditions.”
According to IQAir, a platform that provides real-time air quality data, Vancouver’s air quality is the 105th worst in the world at the time of publication.
Out-of-control wildfires
On Thursday morning, the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) issued an evacuation order for the area of Boston Bar, a community about a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver.
The FVRD said that they issued the order “due to increased wildfire behaviour.”
The two fires of note are the Brunswick Creek fire, which is 3,578 hectares, and the Ainslie Creek fire, which is 16,197 hectares.
In an email, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) told Daily Hive that conditions have been “on a heating and drying trend this week. They added that they are expecting a weather event today that will “bring instability with strong erratic winds and likely dry lightning,” with a chance of small amount (one to five millimetres) of rain.
The BCWS said that they expect “elevated and potentially erratic fire behaviour” to continue today, but that the “current unstable systems should pass” in 24 to 48 hours.
The effects of wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke can cause health impacts, especially to people with lung, heart, or other chronic conditions, as well as those who are pregnant, infants, older adults, and outdoor workers.
According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), smoky air makes it more challenging for your lungs to get oxygen to your blood, irritates your respiratory system and causes an immune response, increasing the risk of some infections.
Some of the mild symptoms people might experience include:
- Eye irritation
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Mild cough
- Phlegm production
More severe symptoms, which the BCCDC advises seeking medical attention for if you experience, include:
- Wheezy breathing
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
Reducing exposure to wildfire smoke is the best way to protect yourself, and the BCCDC advises that people use portable air cleaners with HEPA filtration, make a homemade air cleaner if necessary, or, if you have forced air heating, use different filters and settings to minimize the amount of wildfire smoke.
They also suggest people visit libraries, community centres, and shopping malls to find cooler, filtered air.