Air quality advisory expanded to Metro Vancouver, all of Fraser Valley

Communities across B.C.’s Lower Mainland are under an air quality advisory, due to persistent wildfire smoke in the region.

The advisory, which was initially issued for the eastern Fraser Valley, was expanded to cover the remainder of the valley and Metro Vancouver Friday afternoon.

Smoke from wildfires southeast of Chilliwack, near Hope, near Harrison Lake, and in Washington state, continue to waft through the region, exposing residents to particulate matter that poses a health risk.

More smoke from a new wildfire on Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver was further contributing to hazy conditions, the Metro Vancouver Regional District said in a media release, Friday.

Stagnant weather conditions are forecast to persist for at least the next few days and it is expected that air quality may not change until there is a more significant change in the weather. Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds and temperatures change, and as wildfire behaviour changes,” the district said.

1:58 B.C. wildfires burning in the province late into the fall

The regional district is asking people in the region to reduce their outdoor physical activity. It said exposure is a concern for those with underlying conditions such as lung disease or asthma.

The province should be well into its rainy season by now, but persistent hot and dry weather have created drought conditions, prolonging the risk of wildfires.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, there are 200 active wildfires throughout the province, two of which sparked in the past two days. The bulk of them are found in southeastern B.C. and the coastal region.

Editor’s Note: This is a corrected story. A previous version incorrectly stated the number of active wildfires as 1,694, which is the number of wildfires in 2022 to date.