UPDATE: Smoky skies are expected to linger over the West Kootenay-Boundary area into Thursday, according to the latest forecast by Air Quality BC.
Longrange smoke from the Doctor Creek and Talbott Creek wildfires in the east Kootenays is being compounded by smoke from wildfires in northern Washington State, according to a Tuesday afternoon news release by the province and health authorities across B.C.
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Smoky skies are expected to loom over the Boundary into Wednesday, Sept. 9, as wildfires continue to burn in northern Washington State, according to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary and Interior Health British Columbia.
The smoke poses a “low health risk” to area residents, a Castlegar station that monitors air quality reported Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Meanwhile, Interior Health has warned that smoke exposure may pose “health effects” to people with pre-existing health conditions, as well as those suffering from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19.
The district health authority has suggested that South Kootenay residents can avoid the smoke by staying indoors. It also recommended area motorists whose vehicles have air conditioning to drive with their AC on and their windows up.
Washington wildfires
The Customs Road wildfire on a section of the Kettle River roughly 200 kilometers southwest of Grand Forks has burned over 800 acres of forest, according to a Tuesday report on the US Wildfire Service’s website.
@ltritsch1
laurie.tritschler@grandforksgazette.ca
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