More than 560 wildfires continue to burn in British Columbia, causing air quality concerns across the province and into Alberta and Saskatchewan.
On Tuesday evening, all of from the poor air quality, according to Environment Canada. Wednesday is expected to bring 鈥渉igh鈥� health risks to most of the province, including Victoria, Kamloops, Prince George and Vancouver. The situation isn鈥檛 expected to improve until at least Thursday, when rain showers are forecast to arrive.
on Wednesday. Environment Canada expects the health risks in Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Red Deer and other parts of the province to rise from 鈥渕oderate鈥� to 鈥渉igh.鈥�
on Tuesday; that level of risk is forecast to continue on Wednesday.
Smoke and haze has been causing diminished air quality across most of B.C. for nearly a week.
A high risk level means air quality is poor enough that public health officials recommend people in affected areas should consider minimizing the amount of time they spend outside.
In Prince George, B.C., which was listed as a moderate risk, city councilor Garth Frizzell said residents were 鈥渞eally hopeful鈥� that forecasts showing rain arriving later this week would be borne out, allowing the air to clear.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just wishing to see blue sky again,鈥� he told CTV News Channel. 鈥淚t鈥檚 still that grey blanket of haze.鈥�
More than 2,700 people subject to evacuation orders have been temporarily moved to Prince George.
B.C. Premier John Horgan and federal Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan stopped in the city Tuesday as part of a tour of B.C. locations affected by the fires.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 anticipate that you鈥檙e going to be dealing with air quality in every corner of British Columbia, but that鈥檚 what we have right now,鈥� Horgan told reporters. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all hoping for rain.鈥�
The premier said the province鈥檚 second 鈥渢ragic wildfire season鈥� in a row had impacted peoples鈥� lives, public safety, wildlife and the B.C. economy.
鈥淲e鈥檙e concerned 鈥� that this may well be the new normal,鈥� he said.
Fires being held, but winds picking up
Many float plane flights along the B.C. coast were delayed or cancelled due to the smoke-filled air. The reduced visibility also posed a problem for crews working to bring the wildfires under control.
Forrest Tower, an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service, said smoke preventing aerial reconnaissance and firefighting operations was the 鈥渂iggest struggle鈥� for crews on the front lines.
鈥淚t seems to be that we鈥檙e going to be smoked in for another two or three days here,鈥� Tower told CTV News Channel on Tuesday, from a camp near Shovel Lake. The Shovel Lake fire is considered to be the highest-priority of the more than 560 wildfires burning in B.C. as of Tuesday morning.
Tower said Monday had been a 鈥渞eally successful day鈥� for firefighters working at Shovel Lake and the nearby Island Lake fire, despite the challenges posed by smoke and ash in the sky.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e both holding within containment lines,鈥� he said.
Forecasts were calling for winds to pick up speed in the area Tuesday and Wednesday. Tower said strengthening winds were a concern, but firefighters believed they would be able to keep both fires from spreading regardless.
Smaller fires also erupted in urban parts of B.C. on Monday. One broke out in the afternoon , while another brought firefighters to in Abbotsford a few hours later.
The majority of the large wildfires are burning in the north-central and southern interior parts of B.C., as well as the northern half of Vancouver Island, officials said.
With files from CTV Vancouver and The Canadian Press
The map below shows B.C. wildfire locations. Using our app? Touch here.
