Smoke returns to parts of B.C. as wildfire season continues

BRITISH COLUMBIA (NEWS 1130) – No, it wasn’t your imagination: The smoke made its way back to parts of B.C. on Tuesday. Many people reported the air smelling like burning wood again.

Superintendent of Environmental Sampling with Metro Vancouver says the smoke from certain fires is making its way to the region.

“The source of the wildfire smoke is probably the wildfires burning near the north end of Vancouver Island and maybe some contributions also from wildfires on the Olympic Peninsula,” says Ken Reid.

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But not to worry, despite the haze Reid says levels are nowhere near what they were last month.

“Particular matter is slightly elevated but it’s certainly not at levels right now where we would be issuing an advisory.”

WATCH: Mental health effects of B.C. wildfire smoke

 

But Reid says it could still be a few days before we can truly enjoy the West Coast air again, noting we’ll have to wait for some rain.

“If it’s widespread through most of the province then that could make a very big change in fire behaviour,” he adds.

People living in the South Okanagan might see more of the smoke Wednesday morning, as crews do what’s called a “planned hand ignition” of the Snowy Mountain fire near Keremeos.

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Which means crews will be burning off anything that could potentially start a forest fire.

The Snowy Mountain fire is now 17,000 hectares in size, but wildfire crews don’t expect it to grow any further.

An evacuation alert is still ongoing in the area because of the fire.