Wildfire Smoke Triggers Very High-Risk Air Quality Alert in Eastern Fraser Valley
Liam O'Connell
8/5/20262 min read
Residents in parts of British Columbia’s eastern Fraser Valley are being urged to avoid outdoor activities as wildfire smoke pushes air quality conditions into the very high-risk category.
The Metro Vancouver Regional District upgraded its air quality warning Tuesday for Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope.
As of the afternoon of Aug. 4, the area was under an orange alert, which indicates a very high health risk.
The warning had previously been classified as yellow, representing a high health risk and prompting officials to recommend reducing strenuous outdoor exercise.
Residents Advised to Take a Break From Outdoor Exercise
Christopher Lam, president of the B.C. Lung Foundation, said the conditions provide a valid reason for people to postpone outdoor workouts.
“The joke we often like to make is if you’re ever looking for an excuse for an off day for your workout routine, this is it — you can take that break today,” Lam said.
Wildfire smoke can be particularly concerning for people with asthma, heart or lung conditions, older adults, children and pregnant people.
Diana Pentland, who has asthma, said she was concerned about spending too much time outside while walking in Chilliwack.
“I’m asthmatic, so I’m a little worried about going out too often in this,” she told Peazzi.
Wildfire Complexes Blamed for Smoky Conditions
The air quality warning comes as major wildfires continue to burn across British Columbia, forcing thousands of people to evacuate and covering several regions in thick smoke.
In some areas, the smoke has turned skies grey and given the sun a red-orange appearance.
Metro Vancouver said wildfire complexes near Clinton and Boston Bar are largely responsible for the smoky conditions spreading across the Lower Mainland.
Some of those fires have been burning since early July.
Health Risks Vary Across the Province
According to British Columbia’s Air Quality Health Index, much of the Okanagan was experiencing a moderate health risk Tuesday afternoon.
The region has been affected by the rapidly spreading Bradley Creek and Quilpituk wildfires near Vernon, which have forced thousands of people to leave their homes.
Kamloops was also recording a moderate health risk, while the eastern Fraser Valley remained in the very high-risk category.
Much of the rest of the province was listed at low risk, including Metro Vancouver, despite visible smoky skies Tuesday morning.
Conditions Could Worsen in Metro Vancouver
Lam warned that air quality in Metro Vancouver may deteriorate as smoke continues to move south.
“A part of it has to do with the way the smoke has travelled, and it is starting to come down,” he said.
“You will see over the next couple of days — unfortunately for us living in Metro Vancouver — that pollution level will start to spike on those monitors.”
Residents are being encouraged to monitor local air quality updates, limit time outdoors when smoke is heavy and keep windows and doors closed where possible.
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