By Pete McIntyre

UPDATE

UPDATE Smoke from US fires impacts Okanagan air quality

Sep 14, 2020 | 5:12 AM

UPDATE 5 a.m. Sept. 14

The air quality health index is 10+ — very high health risk for both the North and Central Okanagan.

Health Message for Current Conditions:

At risk population – Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion.
General population – Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

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UPDATE 5:30 p.m.

Interior Health issued the following media release at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 13

Wildfires burning in the Western United States are causing higher than normal smoke pollution in many areas of Interior Health.

Smoke can worsen symptoms for those who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Typical symptoms may include:

· Difficulty breathing

· Chest pain and discomfort

· Coughing

· Irritated eyes, nose, and throat

Smoke can also worsen cardiac disease. Inhaled particles trigger the release of chemical messengers into the blood that may increase the risk of blood clots, angina episodes, heart attacks and strokes. People with chronic cardiac conditions are more susceptible to chest pain, heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, acute congestive heart failure or stroke.

If wildfire smoke is triggering mild symptoms individuals should take medications as prescribed and use a rescue inhaler if one has been prescribed. You should not take more medication, or take it more often than prescribed.

If you are near the fires where smoke or particulates are significant, or the smoke is making them sick, consider leaving the area until the air is clear again.

People should stay indoors as much as possible, and close windows if they can.

Limit or eliminate outdoor exercise until the air clears.

Interior Health is also advising schools to:

· Ensure students are situated appropriately apart.

· Keep classroom windows closed.

· Encourage students to wear closely fitted masks, which will provide some protection.

· Restrict outdoor physical education and limit indoor physical education to lower intensity activity

If you are experiencing symptoms and are concerned, contact your health care provider or walk-in clinic. If your symptoms are severe, seek emergency medical attention.

9 a.m. story

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for the Okanagan and other regions of B.C. due to an increase in wildfire smoke from fires in the U.S.

Smoky Skies Bulletin – September 13, 2020

The Regions of BC highlighted on the map (see link below) are being impacted or are likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24 to 72 hours.

The bulletin has been extended to include more regions over the weekend.

Smoke impacts due to long-range transport from wildfires in the western United States have already been observed in some areas of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and portions of the Interior.

Smoke forecast models indicate the potential for a significant push of smoke into BC throughout the weekend. The anticipated smoke trajectory indicates that the areas impacted will grow to the north and east as the weekend progresses with the most widespread impacts expected on Sunday.

Areas at higher latitudes, such as Prince George, may have smoke passing through the region aloft. With falling temperatures overnight, temperature inversions in mountain valleys can increase the likelihood of smoke being trapped near the ground. Localized impacts from the Talbott Creek, Woodbury Creek, and Doctor Creek fires continue to be expected.

The next bulletin update will be available September 14, 2020. The bulletin and map can be accessed online at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-quality/air-advisories

As of 8:30 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 13), the air quality health risk for Vernon North Okanagan was 6 or moderate health risk.

The Central Okanagan was 10 or very high health risk.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said children, the elderly and pregnant women should avoid spending too much time outdoors to protect their health.

“As for the general population, otherwise healthy adults, we’re actually recommending they reduce or actually straight up reschedule strenuous activities outdoors,” Castellan said, adding that’s particularly the case for anyone experiencing a cough or throat irritation.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said children, the elderly and pregnant women should avoid spending too much time outdoors to protect their health.

“As for the general population, otherwise healthy adults, we’re actually recommending they reduce or actually straight up reschedule strenuous activities outdoors,” Castellan said, adding that’s particularly the case for anyone experiencing a cough or throat irritation.

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon.

The agency advised people with underlying medical conditions or serious infections such as COVID-19 to postpone or reduce activities outside.

It said people with heart and lung conditions are most affected by air pollution and the very high risk is expected to continue through at least Sunday in Metro Vancouver and elsewhere in British Columbia.

However, smoke concentrations may vary widely across the Metro Vancouver area and the Fraser Valley Regional District as winds, temperatures and wildfire behaviour change, it said.

The air quality health index ranks risk from low to high on a scale of one to 10, but the current risk goes beyond that level and is listed as 10-plus.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said children, the elderly and pregnant women should avoid spending too much time outdoors to protect their health.

Residents in Metro Vancouver and beyond have smelled smoke from fires in the U.S. for days, with a fog-like haze continuing to obscure mountains on the North Shore and the sun giving off an eerie orange glow.

Castellan said the wildfires meant Vancouver’s air quality ranked as among the worst of the world’s major cities on Saturday, along with that in Portland, Ore., and San Francisco.

Dozens of people are still missing from wildfires across the U.S. Pacific Northwest, with authorities fearing that the receding flames could reveal many more dead across the blackened landscape.

Showers expected in that region early next week are expected to help with firefighting efforts in Washington and Oregon but the news isn’t so good for those battling enormous fires in California, Castellan said.

“It’s going to do almost nothing for the California fires,” he said, adding some winds without rain may make the situation worse.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2020.

The Canadian Press

by Pete McIntyre

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