intensifying veil of wildfire smoke anticipated in B.C., declare officials

In the coming days, parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada will be affected by wildfire smoke, extending beyond the province of British Columbia. This smoke is linked to a high humidity and a heat wave that has seen record temperatures in several communities.

According to Sarah Henderson, scientific director of Environmental Health Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, a significant amount of smoke is expected to cover most of the province for the next three days. The smoke is coming from fires in B.C., Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and the United States.

Henderson recommends several precautions to protect against the smoke's harmful effects. She advises closing doors and windows, running an indoor air cleaner, and avoiding strenuous outdoor exercise. Instead, she suggests engaging in short periods of more intense workouts over long periods of mild or moderate exercise during poor air quality.

She also recommends wearing a well-fitted N95 mask or similar respirator and drinking plenty of water to reduce inflammation. The Metro Vancouver health authority has advised residents to avoid or limit outdoor activity due to the elevated levels of fine particles in the air.

The Vancouver School Board has moved all activities indoors due to the smoke, and Environment Canada has expanded air-quality bulletins to more than 30 areas in British Columbia. Heat warnings are in place for nine areas of the province, including inland locations of the north and central coast, as well as the North and South Thompson, Fraser Canyon, and Boundary regions.

The smoke is causing "very poor air quality and reduced visibility in some areas" in Alberta, and higher-level warnings are in effect across most of Alberta and a portion of northwestern Saskatchewan. Environment Canada has suggested people in Alberta limit their time outdoors and reschedule outdoor events due to the smoke.

University of British Columbia sport and exercise medicine professor Michael Koehle advises monitoring the latest local conditions on federal and other information resource sites. He warns that people exercising outside may be exposed to particles that lead to long-term issues such as heart and lung disease.

Most people will only experience "transient" mild symptoms, but wildfire smoke can have a longer-lasting health impact. It's crucial to take the necessary precautions to protect oneself and others from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke.