Quesnel residents are breathing much easier this week after smoke covered much of B.C. last week.
Today’s (Aug. 21) Air Quality Health Index sits at 6, moderate risk, which although not clear, is a welcome reprieve from days with a rating at 10+, very high risk. Earlier today the rating sat at 4; however, due to smoke from a controlled burn at the Narcosli Creek Fire, the rating has increased.
The BC Wildfire Service says that planned burn operations to reduce fuel on the south and southeast areas of the Narcosli Creek Fire may mean smoke is visible in the city today. The controlled burns got underway before 3 p.m. today and smoke has drifted in this afternoon.
If conditions permit, there is a major burn operation planned for the Narosli Creek #BCwildfire. This burn will be conducted in an area of green fuels to the south and southeast of C12302. More info below: pic.twitter.com/ChNgwascqS
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 21, 2018
Eryn Collins, a communications officer with Northern Health, says on at least one day in the past week, G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital saw an increase in visits related to poor air quality symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath and sore throat.
“Given the number of pretty poor-quality air days recently, it wouldn’t be unexpected to see some increase in symptom complaints,” says Collins.
Collins says Northern Health’s main advice to help people stay healthy during smoky days is to reduce their exposure to the smoke by staying indoors.
The smoke affected not only locals’ wellbeing but also their travel plans.
Central Mountain Air lead agent Sherrie Crick says some flights were cancelled due to smoke in the Quesnel region; however it was a surprisingly low number given recent conditions.
“We only had to cancel two,” says Crick. Both were cancelled on Friday Aug. 17, she says, when a dark cloud of smoke drifted down the province, blocking the sun almost completely in some areas.
PHOTOS: B.C. city wakes up to darkness under wildfire smoke
Environment Canada’s special air quality advisory is still in effect for Quesnel, although they state recent northeasterly winds have provided air quality improvements to Interior communities.
The organization warns that during a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour.
The Air Quality Health Index rating for the area is predicted to worsen slightly in the next 18 hours, increasing from a rating of 4 earlier this afternoon to 8, high risk, on Wednesday.
Environment Canada is forecasting sun and cloud for Wednesday Aug. 22 with a high of 28 degrees Celsius, but a 60 per cent chance of rain is predicted for Thursday, with rain in the forecast for the weekend and into Monday Aug. 27 as well.
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