Summer weather comes with air quality alerts and increased risk of wildfires

With summer weather finally here and temperature records falling, the focus is turning to matters of safety, especially in the back country.

Right now, smoke from wildfires in Siberia is blanketing the province. Air quality alerts have been issued for the Interior. As well, the ministry of environment has issued an air quality advisory for Smithers, Burns Lake and Houston.

In Metro Vancouver, officials are closely monitoring the situation.

“Under the current conditions, we don’t expect to be impacted any greater than we are right now,” says Ken Reid with Metro Vancouver. “There are parts of B.C. in the Interior that had issued air quality advisories and are getting a little bit more smoke. It is quite variable and it is difficult to predict, so our best indicator is to just keep a close eye on the air quality monitoring data.”

On top of Grouse Mountain, heat and exercise are the perfect combination made easier of course with the relief of a giant refreshing mister.

For tourist destinations like Grouse, that enthusiasm is welcome news. In recent days, visitor numbers have jumped significantly.

“We had a solid June, but the sun definitely makes people want to come out to Grouse Mountain, and we are thrilled about that,” says Sara Lusk with the mountain.

In B.C., despite a wet and cool June, the threat of a wildfire in this province still exists.

Twelve new fires were sparked over the weekend, mostly by thunderstorms.

In fact, since the beginning of April, there have been 332 wildfires.

The greatest fire risk right now is in the northeast corner of the province.

“This is the summer pattern that we often see for a couple of weeks in a row or so. Even though we were interrupted by thunderstorms overnight in the Lower Mainland, we are back in the dry and warmth for a while,” says Global BC senior meteorologist Mark Madryga.

This past weekend a handful of records were set in Pemberton, Blue River, Kelowna, Osoyoos, Nelson and Hope.

Perhaps a sign of things to come. This current warm stretch is expected all week, with the hottest day forecast for the lower Fraser Valley reaching at least 30 degrees come Sunday.

With lots more sun and heat on the way, the SPCA is warning pet owners that fur-covered animals are particularly at risk in the heat, especially in vehicles.

Last week in Kelowna, police were called when a man left his dog inside a parked truck with the windows up.

When he was let out, the dog lapped up two bowls of water.

The man was given a warning by police.

Offending pet owners will be held responsible, however. The maximum penalty under the animal cruelty act is a $75,000 fine, and up to two years in jail.