Vancouver’s air quality affected as several wildfires rage through British Columbia
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There are no significant drops in local air pollution Tuesday due to the wildfires in British Columbia, according to Environment Canada.
Over 100 wildfires are burning through the province, mostly in the interior.
They started after a lightning strike near Williams Lake that lit up nearby Williams Lake Resort on the Canada-United States border last Friday.
The biggest of them is in the Kootenay National Park.
The provincial premier warned the wildfire evacuation is a “major concern, along with health and safety.”
The fire burned over 10,000 hectares Tuesday, causing the largest evacuation in B.C. history as a result of a wildfire.
There are a lot of people in the area and they’re being told to leave,” said Premier John Horgan (Photo: Facebook)
“This is a major concern, along with health and safety.
“This is an event that has the potential to damage infrastructure and impact the health of thousands of people.
“We’re asking for your help in this, as you would in your communities.”
It is now clear that the evacuation, as you would in your community, is likely to be for an extended time so the fire has not yet fully consumed the surrounding areas.
Environment Canada says the maximum 24-hour smoke drift index for the area is 10.65, but they warn that it could double if conditions worsen again.
The largest wildfire in B.C. history erupted at about 11:45 a.m. in Williams Lake, east of the city of Kamloops.
As of 7 p.m. Tuesday, more than 9,000 people from Williams Lake have been evacuated, but it is expected more than 50,000 people — up to one-third of the city — will be without power as a result of the wildfire.
There are 2,500 firefighting personnel on-scene and seven aircraft are in the air, with another four on the ground. At least 18 helicopters are also on-scene, with another 14 en route.