Smoke from wildfires drift over Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday.Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail
Residents across Western Canada were urged to limit outdoor exposure on Wednesday as hot, dry weather stoked new and growing wildfires, blanketing dozens of communities with smoke from the West Coast to Saskatchewan.
About 3.5 million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are advised to seek time in spaces with air filtration or air conditioning to avoid breathing fine particulate matter.
The Vancouver School Board moved all activities indoors because of the smoke, while WorkSafeBC, the provincial agency responsible for workplace safety, issued a warning to employers to limit exposure for those required to work outdoors and to provide N95 respirators where needed.
Ravi Parmar, B.C.’s Minister of Forests, urged caution in the backcountry as exhausted firefighting crews prepare for another hot, dry weekend ahead.
Over the past week, the number of wildfires increased sharply across British Columbia after record-setting high temperatures, with little to no rain around most of the province, coupled with more than 6,000 lightning strikes. Persistent drought conditions and the current heat wave have together made forest fuels more “receptive” to fire.
At midday on Wednesday, there were 155 active wildfires in B.C., and smoke is also flowing toward the coast from Yukon and the United States.
“The risk of new wildfire starts remains a serious issue for much of the province, and the immediate weather forecast will continue to create challenging wildfire conditions,” Mr. Parmar told reporters Wednesday.
The present heat wave is forecast to continue, and more lightning is expected Friday. “I cannot stress enough how vigilant people need to be at this time,” he said.
Sarah Henderson, scientific director of Environmental Health Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, told the briefing that the combination of record-high temperatures and thick smoke will put people at risk, and may have long-term health consequences.
“Most people will only have mild symptoms from wildfire smoke, maybe a sore throat, stinging eyes, a bit of a headache. Those things are normal and usually transient. They will go away when the smoke goes away,” Dr. Henderson said.
Some people may have more severe symptoms, like difficulty breathing or a tight chest. If you’re having severe symptoms from wildfire smoke, please seek medical care.”
Saskatchewan residents who refused to flee wildfire fought flames to save their homes and cabins
People with lung restrictions such as asthma, as well as pregnant women and young children are especially at risk. But she also said that there is growing evidence that wildfire smoke can have longer-lasting health impacts.
“If you take measures to protect yourself from wildfire smoke when it’s smoky outside, you’ll also be protecting your health in the longer term,” she said.
That can mean reducing outdoor activity when possible, wearing a respirator mask, or running air filters indoors.
Environment Canada has expanded air-quality bulletins to more than 30 areas spanning B.C., Alberta and the Northwest Territories and a portion of northwestern Saskatchewan.
“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” the air-quality warning reads in those regions with the heaviest smoke. “Limit time outdoors. Reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events.”
A late-summer heat wave has also triggered health warnings in B.C. communities. On Tuesday, new daily high temperature records were set in Lytton, Cache Creek, Kelowna, Princeton and Whistler. Above-average temperatures are forecast to continue through to the weekend.
In 2021, a heat dome over British Columbia led to more than 600 deaths, putting emergency health services in crisis. Dr. Henderson said Wednesday that there have been no indications yet that the heat and smoke has increased pressure on the health care system.
“Overall, I feel confident that, because we’ve managed these types of events before, the population has some of the skills necessary to cope,” she said.
The Forests Minister noted that a helicopter carrying wildfire fighters made a “forced landing” near Pemberton on Wednesday morning. Although the pilot and three passengers were able to walk away, he stressed that this long wildfire season, which started in April, is taking a toll on frontline crews.
With a report from The Canadian Press