The Sparks Lake wildfire, burning near Red Lake, northwest of Kamloops is leading to smoky skies in the area today.
It was one of 22 fires that started in the province yesterday though some of those were spot fires that have been extinguished.
Still, Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says in addition to protecting yourself from the record breaking heat, you should protect yourself from smoke inhalation as well.
“Once wildfires do show up and there are many of them – it could be south of the border like they were in September of last year or they could be in and around the Cariboo, the Okanagan, the Thompson – they will bring smoke and that will affect literally every lung out there because it is such a pervasive hazard to our health,” he said.
It is not the first time its been smoky in Kamloops this year. Two weeks ago the city was blanketed in a smoky haze because of the George Road wildfire that is still burning near Lytton, though it hasn’t grown in size.
While smoke can affect even healthy people, Castellan says the very young or very old, people with asthma or COPD, as well as pregnant women are at a greater risk.
“There are things that communities can do and individuals can do to prepare a clean air room with a HEPA filter in your house, at least for your sleeping locations, so you can ensure that you have eight hours of the 24 that you’re in a cleaner environment if we end up getting those multi-days of very high concentrations of particulate matter,” he added.
“Somebody with COPD really needs that clean air in order not to suffer detrimental impacts from another episodic event of smoke.”
As of publishing, the Air Quality Index in Kamloops was a four (4) which signals a “low” health risk. The rating system goes from one to 10-plus.
In addition to using HEPA filters, the BC Centre for Disease Control says to spend less time outdoors, if possible, and head to places like community centres, libraries, or shopping malls which tend to have cleaner, cooler indoor air.
People are also being told to take it easy and drink lots of water to help reduce inflammation.
For more on wildfire smoke and how you can protect yourself, go here.