Smoky skies blanket southern B.C. amid wildfire emergency

Smoky skies bulletins have been issued for southern B.C. and air quality advisories arein place in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, as the province is under a wildfire-related state of emergency.

The smoky skies bulletin, issued by the province just before 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, covers the entire southern Interior from the B.C.-Alberta border including Kamloops, Kelowna, the Okanagan and the Kootenays.

Smoke has now made its way to the South Coast, with Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley issuing air quality advisorieswarning of fine particulate matter across theregion, due to more than 380 wildfires around B.C.

"This advisory will remain in effect until further notice," reads the advisory posted Saturday evening. "Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour changes."

Smoky skies bulletins also cover the Sunshine Coast and nearly all of Vancouver Island. There is also a bulletin in place for the Lakes District and Stuart-Nechako region in northern B.C.

According to the province, bulletins are "a special type of public advisory to communicate the rapidly changing nature of wildfire smoke."

Air quality advisoriesare issued "when pollutant concentrations approach or exceed predetermined limits, or when degraded-air-quality episodes are expected to continue or worsen."

Air Canada's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) shows "moderate risk" across much of Metro Vancouveron Sunday due to the smoke in the air. However, the index goes up to "high risk" for vulnerable populations.

In the Central Okanagan, where the McDougall Creek wildfirehas been burning since Tuesday, the AQHI is at its maximum rating of 10+, or "very high risk".

At a Saturday news conference, B.C. Emergencies Minister Bowinn Ma said wildfire smoke could lead to severe health impacts for vulnerable people including infants, seniors and pregnant people.

"Stay indoors and avoid outside outdoor activity. Avoid exercising outdoors," she said. "If you are able to set up a HEPA filter in your home to clean out the air, that is definitely advisable. Wear an N95 mask when you're walking outside."

Ma said the province would work with communities to set up clean air spaces in order to serve vulnerable populations.