Richmond fire contained but still burning; region under heat warning, air quality advisory
Posted July 30, 2018 6:03 am.
Last Updated July 30, 2018 11:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) – The fire near the Richmond Nature Park is still burning and smoldering under a hazy sky, while heat warnings and air quality advisories remain in place for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
According to the City of Richmond, the fire, which flared up on Department of National Defense land on Friday, is now 100 per cent contained within the perimeter fire line. It could be the weekend before it’s fully out.
The fire is a little over 12 hectares.
Crews with the Vancouver, Delta and District of North Vancouver fire departments are among the dozens on-site today.
“The air quality advisory, primarily targets the eastern half of Metro Vancouver and more so the Fraser Valley,” explains NEWS 1130 meteorologist Russ Lacate. “That’s where the weak seabreeze simply won’t penetrate far enough inland to provide much in the way of freshening of the air.”
“The advisory is for elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone, which tend to peak in the late afternoons. But in addition, the air quality overall has deteriorated district-wide, due to that wildfire smoke from the Richmond fire.”
The air quality advisory means you should avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially in the sun. That advisory should be in place for the next couple days.
“The problem with ozone is it’s a lung irritant,” adds Environment Canada meteorologist Trevor Smith. “So people like infants, the elderly and those with lung or heart disease are particularly at risk.”
As for the heat, you’re advised to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and spend time in an air-conditioned space for at least several hours each day. Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, and remember to never leave people or pets in a parked car.
Wildfires continue to burn across the province
The wildfire situation across BC still includes a major blaze in the Okanagan. The Mt. Eneas fire near Peachland still around 1,800 hectares. It is still classified as out of control.
Crews have also had to deal with boaters getting in the way of water-bombing planes and helicopters trying to refill in Okanagan Lake.
The Goode’s Creek fire at Okanagan Mountain Park near Kelowna is nearly 1,400 hectares, while the Glenfir Road northwest of Naramata is about 100 hectares. Both are classified as out of control.
Crews are also trying to get a handle on the 1,900-hectare Snowy Mountain wildfire south of Keremos and the 1,000-hectare Placer Mountain fire south of Princeton. Neither of them have been contained.
