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Wildfire workers are fighting an increasing number of fires in BC. They are also fighting heavy smoke, which has filled large areas of the province with dangerous pollutants.
As of Sunday morning, there were 245 wildfires in the province. The largest number is the Kamloops Fire Center, which includes the Okanagan area, which accounts for nearly one-third of all fires in British Columbia. In the past two days, the number of fires has increased by 14 cases.
More than 3,000 properties in the province have been ordered to evacuate, at least 15 municipalities Exceeds the province’s maximum 24-hour exposure to air pollution.
“Dense smoke continues to affect Okanagan,” Erica Berg of the Wildfire Service of British Columbia told CBC News. “This means that we have to be very strategic about where our aircraft are parked and where they can operate… it does affect our operations… our employees-their well-being, they Safety-is our top priority.
“We attach great importance to visibility.”
The inland areas of the province continue to be affected by wildfire smoke. The authorities warned residents that long-term exposure to micro-pollutants in the air poses serious health risks to the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children.
Health risk
The smog was so severe that many areas south of the western U.S. border were under air quality warnings on Sunday because the wildfire smoke in British Columbia was still spreading. This includes the Rocky Mountains in the northern United States, including parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Washington and Idaho.
#BC Some parts of the smoky area continue to be smoky, which affects air quality and poses a health risk. @CDCofBC Provides some important tips on how to cope and stay healthy:https://t.co/scEG20pdix
(Picture from https://t. co/OUG7TvBkgO) #BCwildfire pic.twitter.com/aC7AkwAsy6
Wildfires emit a large number of tiny smoke particles. Researchers say these particles may be harmful and have direct and long-term health effects.
So far this year, 5,050 square kilometers of land in British Columbia have been burned-a 45% increase from the wildfire season average of the past ten years.
Wildfire smoke has worsened the air quality in many communities in British Columbia to dangerous levels.
The worst-hit community is Trail-36 times the maximum exposure of the World Health Organization in 24 hours on average-followed by the nearby city of Kootenay, Castlegar, which surpassed World Health Organization guidelines in the past day 30 times. In the Okanagan area, Kelowna reached 29 times the highest level of safety at the time.
At the same time, there are still 61 Evacuation Order More than 3,000 properties are affected. Late on Saturday night, Queest Village and Pete Martin Bay north of Sicamous in BC issued a new order, and the Eastgate community southwest of Princeton on Highway 3 also issued another order.
Anyone receiving an evacuation order should leave the area immediately.
Evacuation centers have been set up throughout the province to help anyone evacuating from communities threatened by wildfires.To find the center closest to you, please visit Emergency Management in British Columbia. Website.
Encourage evacuees to Emergency Support Service Online, regardless of whether they receive services in an evacuation center or not.
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