METRO Vancouver Regional District has issued an Air Quality Warning in eastern parts of Metro Vancouver and Central and Eastern Fraser Valley due to elevated ground-level ozone (smog) and in Eastern Fraser Valley due to fine particulate matter (small particles in the air that may impact health).

The ozone (smog) warning is expected to last at least until tomorrow. The fine particular matter warning is expected to last today and tomorrow or until smoke conditions improve. The warnings will remain in effect until further notice.

Cause: Hot and sunny weather in combination with local emissions has resulted in elevated levels of ground-level ozone. Smoke from the Sailor Bar wildfire burning north of Yale in the Fraser Canyon has resulted in elevated levels of fine particulate matter in the Eastern Fraser Valley.

Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures, and wildfire behaviour changes.

Air Quality Warning in effect for:

• Metro Vancouver – Northeast (smog)
• Metro Vancouver – Southeast (smog)
• Central Fraser Valley (smog)
• Eastern Fraser Valley (fine particulate matter and smog)

Important information:

• Outdoor Activities: Consider postponing or limiting outdoor activities, especially for people at risk, including those with lung and heart conditions or diabetes, pregnant people, infants, children, and older adults. Take it easy and take frequent breaks if outdoor activities cannot be avoided.
• Find Cleaner Air: Use a portable HEPA air cleaner in one or more rooms at home. Keep windows and doors closed but ensure the space does not get too hot. If your home is too smoky or hot, spend time in community spaces that have air conditioning since they also tend to have better air quality. These can include community centres, libraries, and shopping malls.
• Heat Safety:Heat and air pollution can happen together. Heat is a bigger health concern for most people. Stay cool, drink plenty of water and spend time in spaces with air conditioning. Check with your municipality to see if cooling centres are available near you.
• Monitor Your Symptoms: Seek medical care for symptoms like chest discomfort, shortness of breath, severe coughing or wheezing, and dizziness. Check on family, friends, and neighbours often, and call 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency
• Check Air Quality Regularly: Monitor the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) rating nearest you at airmap.ca or gov.bc.ca/airqualitymap. Use the current health messages accompanying the rating to make decisions about your outdoor activities. Air quality can change throughout the day and by location so check the AQHI often. Sign up for Air Quality Warnings alerts and updates at metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/mailing-list.

Other Actions to Protect your Health:

• Take it easy and limit outdoor exercise, because the harder you breathe, the more air pollution you inhale.
• Run portable air cleaners, such as those with HEPA filters or do-it-yourself air cleaners, to reduce air pollution in your home. Make sure that the air cleaners are the right size for the spaces you are using them in, and to change filters regularly.
• Continue to manage pre-existing chronic health conditions such as asthma, COPD or other lung diseases, heart disease, and diabetes. Use symptom-management medications, such as inhalers, as needed. Seek medical attention if symptoms continue to be bothersome.
• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can alleviate some respiratory symptoms.
• Special measures to protect outdoor workers and people who are unhoused are recommended. If possible, find alternate duties indoors or provide fitted masks and frequent breaks for outdoor workers. Support workers to monitor for symptoms and discontinue outdoor work if needed. Community spaces are encouraged to relax policies and allow unhoused people to shelter inside for as long as possible.
• If outdoor activities cannot be avoided, consider wearing a well-fitted mask labeled with letters and numbers like N95, KB95, or KF94. This can help reduce the amount of small particles in wildfire smoke that you breathe in. A cloth mask with three layers or a disposable medical mask can also give some protection. Masks with only one layer, along with bandanas, scarves, or t-shirts, won’t protect you from small particles. Wearing a mask can make breathing more difficult, so always pay attention to how you are feeling and reduce or stop your activities if you feel unwell.
• Having a smoke readiness plan for buildings can help protect occupants. Plans may include actions to limit smoke entry into buildings and upgrading or adding supplemental air filtration during smoky periods.