Orange air-quality warning issued for B.C.’s Southern Interior

Wildfire smoke is creating hazardous air quality in parts of British Columbia, prompting an orange, high-impact air-quality warning for areas of the Southern Interior including the Fraser Canyon, Merritt and Kelowna.

Kelowna’s sky was heavily obscured Thursday. IQAir reported the city’s U.S. air-quality index was in the 300s that afternoon, before listing it at 79, a moderate-risk reading, Friday morning. The Okanagan forecast on Canada’s 10-point air-quality scale was four, or moderate risk, except 10, or high risk, in smoke.

A yellow warning covers roughly half the province, from Quesnel to the southern border. Environment Canada says smoke conditions can change substantially from hour to hour during a wildfire.

The agency advises people to postpone or reduce strenuous outdoor activity until the warning ends and to spend time indoors where the air is cleaner.