New Westminster's air is slowly getting worse as wildfire smoke from two out-of-control wildfires burning near Harrison Lake moves in over the region.
The New West air monitoring station reported good air quality this morning, with a health index of 2 (or low risk), but that has since moved into the moderate risk zone, with a rating of 5 as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7.
Metro Vancouver has issued an air quality advisory for some parts of Metro Vancouver (the northeast and southeast zones), as well as the Central and Eastern Fraser Valley. It notes that the two Harrison Lake wildfires, in combination with hot and sunny weather and local emissions, has resulted in elevated levels of ground-level ozone.
Smoke concentrations may vary widely across the region as winds, temperatures and wildfire behaviour change, the advisory notes.
Metro Vancouver warns that people should postpone or reduce outdoor physical activity while fine particulate matter and ozone concentrations are high, especially if breathing feels uncomfortable. Exposure is of particular concern for people with underlying conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases, heart disease and/or diabetes.
Older people, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and infants and children, plus those who are socially marginalized (those who are unhoused) are also more vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality.
To monitor New Westminster's air quality in real time, check out the Metro Vancouver Air Map.
