Metro Vancouver air quality warning as wildfire smoke drifts from Fraser Canyon
Eastern Fraser Valley hit by smoke from the Brunswick Creek wildfire; onshore winds expected to clear the haze through the day.
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Metro Vancouver issued a yellow air quality warning Monday, July 6, for the Eastern Fraser Valley due to elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke.
The Brunswick Creek wildfire near Boston Bar has grown in size, and smoke travelled down the Fraser Canyon into the Eastern Fraser Valley overnight. The wildfire has continued to grow exponentially, creating hazy conditions across the region.
Metro Vancouver advises residents to limit outdoor activities and their intensity while PM2.5 levels remain high. People at higher risk — those with underlying conditions like asthma, lung disease, or heart disease, pregnant people, older adults, children, and outdoor workers — should take extra care.
Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Terri Lang said onshore flow of cleaner air is expected to help clear the haze through the day. "Smoke levels can change quickly with weather and fire behaviour," Metro Vancouver noted. The region is using a new colour-coded alert system aligned with Environment Canada's weather alerts, with yellow indicating high health risk and orange for very high health risk.
