Smoke from fires south of the border is making its way north, and the BC Wildfire Information office says residents of southern B.C. should prepare to see a heavy blanket settle in, starting as early as this evening.
Most of this smoke is drifting northward from fires in Washington State, reads a statement from BC Wildfire
“The Stickpin wildfire burning in northern Ferry County, Washington, 4.5 kilometres south of the Canada-United States border is now estimated at 16,830 hectares. The BC Wildfire Service is working closely with fire agency representatives in the United States to coordinate wildfire response for this incident,” they said.
A BC Wildfire Service Incident Management Team completed preliminary reconnaissance of the northern flanks of the fire today. Sustained action crews and equipment will be arriving in Washington tonight and tomorrow morning to aid in suppression and containment of the northern flanks of this wildfire. Border Services in both countries have been supportive in expediting the deployment of firefighting resources.
Detecting new fires in this situation can be challenging due to poor visibility. If you spot a wildfire, or a distinct column of smoke, please report it to *5555 (or 1-800-663-5555 on a landline) as soon as possible. The more information we have, the more effective our response will be.
To see the current smoke forecast for western Canada, check here:http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/BSC00WC04/current/
For information about air quality, check: http://www.bcairquality.ca
Those with health concerns should contact their local health authority.
