No air quality advisory has been issued for the Cowichan Valley, in spite of the fact that residents woke up Sunday morning to a sky obscured by smoke from fires burning in Washington State, and ash is falling to the ground like fine snow.
Suzanne Germain of Island Health said that though no formal warning has been issued, people who are seeing, smelling and feeling the air pollution should stay inside. Particularly, those with underlying medical conditions like heart and lung issues should not do strenuous exercise outdoors.
"If you’re feeling affected by it you should stay inside," she said.
Though there are forest fires burning near Port Alberni and Port Hardy, the smoke is actually from fires burning in Washington State, Germain said.
UPDATE: The Cowichan Valley Regional District says that six fires in the Coastal Fire Centre are also spreading smoke into the Cowichan Valley.
For more information on air quality and forest fire smoke check out:
http://www.bcairquality.ca/readings/index.html
http://www.ec.gc.ca/cas-aqhi/default.asp?lang=En&n=79A8041B-1
