air quality

Chilliwack made changes to its open burning bylaw. (Chilliwack Progress file)

Open burning bylaw gets more restricted in Chilliwack

The bylaw ‘is a step toward protecting our airshed and our respiratory health,’ says mayor

Chilliwack made changes to its open burning bylaw. (Chilliwack Progress file)
Air quality will go from low risk to moderate risk across the Lower Mainland in the next 48 hours but nothing like the terrible smoke created by climate wildfires last month. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)

Air quality across the Lower Mainland could worsen slightly

AQ health index could see ‘low risk’ gravitate into ‘moderate risk’ from Vancouver to Hope

Air quality will go from low risk to moderate risk across the Lower Mainland in the next 48 hours but nothing like the terrible smoke created by climate wildfires last month. (Jennifer Feinberg/ The Chilliwack Progress)
Chilliwack cancels fall outdoor burning season. (File Photo)

Fall outdoor burning season cancelled in Chilliwack

Council decided to cancel outdoor burning because of pandemic air quality concerns

Chilliwack cancels fall outdoor burning season. (File Photo)
The air quality advisory, which had been in effect since Sept. 8, was finally cancelled on Saturday, Sept. 19. The past week there has been poor visibility due to the smoke. This is looking southeast on the overpass at 152nd Street and Colebrook Road in Surrey. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Air quality advisory ends for the Lower Mainland

It had been in effect since Sept. 8

The air quality advisory, which had been in effect since Sept. 8, was finally cancelled on Saturday, Sept. 19. The past week there has been poor visibility due to the smoke. This is looking southeast on the overpass at 152nd Street and Colebrook Road in Surrey. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Sunrise at Five Corners, Chilliwack on Sept. 17, 2020 just before 7 a.m. shows air quality conditions continue to improve on the tenth day of an air quality alert. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Air quality across the Fraser Valley continues to improve

It’s day 10 of the fine particulate matter advisory but the health index readings are going down

Sunrise at Five Corners, Chilliwack on Sept. 17, 2020 just before 7 a.m. shows air quality conditions continue to improve on the tenth day of an air quality alert. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Buildings in West Vancouver, B.C., are obscured due to the heavy smoke in the air Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. Heavy smoke and poor air quality have been caused due to the wildfires burning south of the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Air quality improves slightly in B.C. from U.S. wildfires

Canada Post has resumed delivery in some parts of the province

Buildings in West Vancouver, B.C., are obscured due to the heavy smoke in the air Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. Heavy smoke and poor air quality have been caused due to the wildfires burning south of the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Five Corners, Chilliwack on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at just before 7 a.m. The sky looks brighter and slightly less smoke-filled early in the day but forecasts were calling for widespread smoke again across the region. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress)

Slightly better air quality is what the Fraser Valley woke up to

But ground-level smoke still remains and is expected to remain through the week

Five Corners, Chilliwack on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at just before 7 a.m. The sky looks brighter and slightly less smoke-filled early in the day but forecasts were calling for widespread smoke again across the region. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress)
Geese fly over a smoke-covered field. Wildfires have blanketed much of southern B.C. in smoke as air quality issues abound (Contributed Photo/Sarah McNeil).

UFV study zeroes in on impact wildfires are having on exercise and well being

When the air quality is poor people are advised to reduce physical activity but do they?

Geese fly over a smoke-covered field. Wildfires have blanketed much of southern B.C. in smoke as air quality issues abound (Contributed Photo/Sarah McNeil).
Slight improvement in the air quality on Sept. 15, 2020 although smoke concentrations still visible at Five Corners in Chilliwack and air quality alert still in effect. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Widespread smoke in the forecast across the region

Air quality and smoky skies for the eighth straight day from Metro Vancouver to the Fraser Valley

Slight improvement in the air quality on Sept. 15, 2020 although smoke concentrations still visible at Five Corners in Chilliwack and air quality alert still in effect. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Five Corners in downtown Chilliwack looking eerie at 7 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, with visibility obscured due to poor air quality due to dangerously high levels of smoke particles. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress)

Lower Mainland hoping for relief from blanket of smoke that has covered the region

Air quality to start improving but smoke concentrations will vary depending on winds and temperature

Five Corners in downtown Chilliwack looking eerie at 7 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, with visibility obscured due to poor air quality due to dangerously high levels of smoke particles. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress)
Most of Southern B.C. including the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Boundary residents woke up to somewhat smoky skies Tuesday, Sept. 8 and provincial officials warned the smoke could last 24-48 hours. (Wendy MacLean/Facebook)

Smoky skies and air quality concerns impact the Lower Mainland for a second day

Exposure is a big concern for people with underlying conditions like lung and heart conditions

Most of Southern B.C. including the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Boundary residents woke up to somewhat smoky skies Tuesday, Sept. 8 and provincial officials warned the smoke could last 24-48 hours. (Wendy MacLean/Facebook)
Blue Sky Canada Smoke Forecasting System is showing that local smoke is coming from fires in Washington, in forecast modeling from Sept. 8, 2020 (Blue Sky Canada)

Smoky Skies Alert issued for southern B.C. due to fires in Washington

Forecasting model illustrates drifting smoke hundreds of miles from fires

Blue Sky Canada Smoke Forecasting System is showing that local smoke is coming from fires in Washington, in forecast modeling from Sept. 8, 2020 (Blue Sky Canada)
Smoky skies have caused a 25 per cent increase in inhaler prescriptions across B.C. (Photo by Ana Maria Dacol/Creative Commons)

B.C. sees 25% jump in inhaler use from wildfire smoke

Weekly increases saw thousands of people with breathing problems reach for their puffers during air quality advisories

Smoky skies have caused a 25 per cent increase in inhaler prescriptions across B.C. (Photo by Ana Maria Dacol/Creative Commons)
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