wildfire smoke

Smoke from wildfires fills the air in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. Canada’s air quality last year was worse than the United States for the first time since a firm started publishing its annual assessment in 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Fresh air harder to come by in Canada than the U.S. for first time

Driven by wildfires, 6th World Air Quality report finds Canada’s pollution worse than U.S.

 

Wildfire smoke continues to fill the air, as seen over Okanagan Lake from Vernon Friday, Aug. 25. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Wildfires drive back smoky skies across B.C.

Air quality advisory for many regions, including Okanagan

 

Image of the Bush Creek East wildfire. (Cory Erlandson)

Shuswap winery, vacation home saved from wildfire ‘thanks to those who stayed behind’

Staff of Celista Winery stay in fire zone to fight flames

  • Aug 23, 2023

 

A growing body of international research suggests pollution from wildfire smoke can produce cognitive deficits, post-traumatic stress and may even cause or hasten dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.A person travels in a boat past people walking on the boardwalk as smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire blankets the area on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfire smoke can damage the brain long after flames are extinguished

Research says exposure may increase risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

A growing body of international research suggests pollution from wildfire smoke can produce cognitive deficits, post-traumatic stress and may even cause or hasten dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.A person travels in a boat past people walking on the boardwalk as smoke from the McDougall Creek wildfire blankets the area on Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival will go on despite smoky skies from nearby wildfires, the festival announced on Facebook Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Black Press Media)

Show will go on: Salmon Arm ROOTSandBLUES proceeding as planned

Organizers say Salmon Arm ‘is not under any direct wildfire threat’

The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival will go on despite smoky skies from nearby wildfires, the festival announced on Facebook Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Black Press Media)
A view of smoky skies from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Lena Simonson/Facebook)

Wildfire smoke settling into some B.C. communities

An air quality advisory has been issued for the area, including Cariboo (north including Quesnel) and Elk Valley

A view of smoky skies from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (Lena Simonson/Facebook)
The East Adams Lake wildfire is currently 6,505 hectares. (BC Wildfire Service)

Increased temperatures, wind gusts expected Sunday for East Adams Lake fire

The fire was first discovered July 12, 2023

  • Aug 13, 2023
The East Adams Lake wildfire is currently 6,505 hectares. (BC Wildfire Service)
The Stein Mountain wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

2 properties remain evacuated for fire burning northwest of Lytton

The wildfire is estimated at 350 hecatres

  • Aug 6, 2023
The Stein Mountain wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
Hazy skies over Terrace on July 8, as Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for the city amid wildfire smoke across northwest B.C. (Kevin Shenanaganz Bolton/Facebook)

Wildfire smoke highlights need for better ventilation in public spaces

Experts say estimates indicate wildfires will increase 25 per cent by 2030

Hazy skies over Terrace on July 8, as Environment Canada issued an air quality statement for the city amid wildfire smoke across northwest B.C. (Kevin Shenanaganz Bolton/Facebook)
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment says a nine-year-old B.C. boy who died from asthma exacerbated by wildfire smoke is the face of the climate crisis in Canada. The St. Mary’s wildfire is shown in this handout image provided by the B.C. Wildfire Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service

Asthmatic B.C. boy who died amid wildfire smoke called ‘face of climate crisis’

B.C. doctors group says Carter Vigh’s death underscores urgent need to protect vulnerable people

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment says a nine-year-old B.C. boy who died from asthma exacerbated by wildfire smoke is the face of the climate crisis in Canada. The St. Mary’s wildfire is shown in this handout image provided by the B.C. Wildfire Service. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service
A downed power line has started a fire in the Fintry area. (contributed)

Evacuation alert issued due to 5 hectare wildfire burning north of West Kelowna

The story will be updated as more information becomes available

  • Jul 17, 2023
A downed power line has started a fire in the Fintry area. (contributed)
A smoky skies bulletin has been issued for much of B.C. Friday, July 14, 2023. (Dave Ardill photo)

Wildfire smoke affecting air quality throughout B.C.

A smoky skies bulletin has been issued for a large eastern portion of the province

A smoky skies bulletin has been issued for much of B.C. Friday, July 14, 2023. (Dave Ardill photo)
A plane taxis to the runway as smoke from wildfires in Canada is visible on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Canadian wildfires send smoke south, triggering air quality warnings

Chicago, Detroit and Toronto occupy three of the worst four spots on global ranking for air quality

A plane taxis to the runway as smoke from wildfires in Canada is visible on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
The skyline of Montreal is obscured by a haze of smog, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Smoke from the wildfires burning across northern Quebec is grounding the province’s water bombers and causing widespread smog warnings futher south. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Quebec wildfire smoke causes widespread smog, grounds some water bombers

Heavy rain and some wind pending, which should allow operations to resume ‘almost normally’

The skyline of Montreal is obscured by a haze of smog, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Smoke from the wildfires burning across northern Quebec is grounding the province’s water bombers and causing widespread smog warnings futher south. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Smoke clouded the picturesque view down Kalamalka Lake as Coldstream’s grad class posed for photos on the Kal Lake dock Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Bowen Assman - Morning Star)

Wildfire smoke lingers in central and eastern B.C., but expected to clear soon

Smoke expected to clear through today and into weekend as westerly flows push the smoke into Alberta

Smoke clouded the picturesque view down Kalamalka Lake as Coldstream’s grad class posed for photos on the Kal Lake dock Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Bowen Assman - Morning Star)
A thick smell of smoke in Vernon can almost be tasted due to wildfire smoke covering nearly half of B.C. (jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Wildfire smoke leads to air quality advisory for much of B.C.

A smoky skies bulletin has been issued Wednesday, June 14

A thick smell of smoke in Vernon can almost be tasted due to wildfire smoke covering nearly half of B.C. (jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
A Corsi-Rosenthal air purifier built by Liz Hradil is seen at her home in Syracuse, N.Y. after the wildfire smoke covered much of New York Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The method involves taping four air filters together with a box fan. Experts say the DIY method is highly effective against filtering air indoors against wildfire smoke. (Liz Hradil via AP)

Social media helps invent, then circulate info on DIY air purifiers amid wildfire smoke

Some East Coast residents are learning about the box fan method for the first time.

A Corsi-Rosenthal air purifier built by Liz Hradil is seen at her home in Syracuse, N.Y. after the wildfire smoke covered much of New York Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The method involves taping four air filters together with a box fan. Experts say the DIY method is highly effective against filtering air indoors against wildfire smoke. (Liz Hradil via AP)
An image taken from a visual air quality monitor through Clean Air BC, of what should show a clear view of Mt. Baker in Abbotsford. (Clear Air BC website)

Wildfire smoke stretches from Vancouver to Hope, prompting air quality advisory

Abbotsford seeing the worst of smoke pollution Wednesday afternoon as heat and smoke create bad air

An image taken from a visual air quality monitor through Clean Air BC, of what should show a clear view of Mt. Baker in Abbotsford. (Clear Air BC website)
Smoke is shown as the Stoddart Creek wildfire burns in British Columbia in this May 17, 2023 handout image taken from video. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Smoky skies cause poor air quality in parts of B.C., Environment Canada says

Shift in weather patterns throughout the day is expected to improve conditions

Smoke is shown as the Stoddart Creek wildfire burns in British Columbia in this May 17, 2023 handout image taken from video. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Wearing a protective mask, dog walker Leslie Kramer ventures out as heavy smoke from northern Alberta forest fires comes south to blanket the downtown area in Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. As air quality due to wildfire smoke remains poor in parts of Western Canada, health experts are advising people to stay inside as much as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

Still smelling wildfire smoke? Stay inside or wear a mask, experts say

Much of Western Canada dealing with the effects of wildfire smoke

Wearing a protective mask, dog walker Leslie Kramer ventures out as heavy smoke from northern Alberta forest fires comes south to blanket the downtown area in Calgary, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. As air quality due to wildfire smoke remains poor in parts of Western Canada, health experts are advising people to stay inside as much as possible. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal