992
WOCN20 CWVR 251137
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA, THE B.C. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND
PARKS AND METRO VANCOUVER
AT 4:37 A.M. PDT MONDAY 25 AUGUST 2025.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
METRO VANCOUVER - NE
METRO VANCOUVER - SE
CENTRAL FRASER VALLEY
EASTERN FRASER VALLEY.
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==DISCUSSION==
(AUGUST, 24, 2025) METRO VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT HAS ISSUED AN
AIR QUALITY WARNING IN EASTERN PARTS OF METRO VANCOUVER AND CENTRAL
AND EASTERN FRASER VALLEY DUE TO ELEVATED GROUND-LEVEL OZONE (SMOG)
AND IN EASTERN FRASER VALLEY DUE TO FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (SMALL
PARTICLES IN THE AIR THAT MAY IMPACT HEALTH).
THE OZONE (SMOG) WARNING IS EXPECTED TO LAST AT LEAST UNTIL
TOMORROW. THE FINE PARTICULAR MATTER WARNING IS EXPECTED TO LAST
TODAY AND TOMORROW OR UNTIL SMOKE CONDITIONS IMPROVE. THE WARNINGS
WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
CAUSE: HOT AND SUNNY WEATHER IN COMBINATION WITH LOCAL EMISSIONS HAS
RESULTED IN ELEVATED LEVELS OF GROUND-LEVEL OZONE. SMOKE FROM THE
SAILOR BAR WILDFIRE BURNING NORTH OF YALE IN THE FRASER CANYON HAS
RESULTED IN ELEVATED LEVELS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER IN THE
EASTERN FRASER VALLEY.
SMOKE CONCENTRATIONS MAY VARY WIDELY ACROSS THE REGION AS WINDS,
TEMPERATURES, AND WILDFIRE BEHAVIOUR CHANGES.
AIR QUALITY WARNING IN EFFECT FOR:
- METRO VANCOUVER - NORTHEAST (SMOG)
- METRO VANCOUVER - SOUTHEAST (SMOG)
- CENTRAL FRASER VALLEY (SMOG)
- EASTERN FRASER VALLEY (FINE PARTICULATE MATTER AND SMOG)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: CONSIDER POSTPONING OR LIMITING OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE AT RISK, INCLUDING THOSE WITH LUNG
AND HEART CONDITIONS OR DIABETES, PREGNANT PEOPLE, INFANTS,
CHILDREN, AND OLDER ADULTS. TAKE IT EASY AND TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IF
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES CANNOT BE AVOIDED.
- FIND CLEANER AIR: USE A PORTABLE HEPA AIR CLEANER IN ONE OR MORE
ROOMS AT HOME. KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED BUT ENSURE THE SPACE
DOES NOT GET TOO HOT. IF YOUR HOME IS TOO SMOKY OR HOT, SPEND TIME
IN COMMUNITY SPACES THAT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING SINCE THEY ALSO TEND
TO HAVE BETTER AIR QUALITY. THESE CAN INCLUDE COMMUNITY CENTRES,
LIBRARIES, AND SHOPPING MALLS.
- HEAT SAFETY: HEAT AND AIR POLLUTION CAN HAPPEN TOGETHER. HEAT IS A
BIGGER HEALTH CONCERN FOR MOST PEOPLE. STAY COOL, DRINK PLENTY OF
WATER AND SPEND TIME IN SPACES WITH AIR CONDITIONING. CHECK WITH
YOUR MUNICIPALITY TO SEE IF COOLING CENTRES ARE AVAILABLE NEAR YOU.
- MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS: SEEK MEDICAL CARE FOR SYMPTOMS LIKE CHEST
DISCOMFORT, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SEVERE COUGHING OR WHEEZING, AND
DIZZINESS. CHECK ON FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBOURS OFTEN, AND CALL
9-1-1 IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
- CHECK AIR QUALITY REGULARLY: MONITOR THE AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX
(AQHI) RATING NEAREST YOU AT AIRMAP.CA OR GOV.BC.CA/AIRQUALITYMAP.
USE THE CURRENT HEALTH MESSAGES ACCOMPANYING THE RATING TO MAKE
DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. AIR QUALITY CAN CHANGE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND BY LOCATION SO CHECK THE AQHI OFTEN. SIGN UP
FOR AIR QUALITY WARNINGS ALERTS AND UPDATES AT
METROVANCOUVER.ORG/SERVICES/AIR-QUALITY-CLIMATE-ACTION/MAILING-LIST.
WHEN AIR POLLUTION LEVELS ARE HIGH, EVERYONE SHOULD LIMIT TIME
OUTDOORS. CONSIDER REDUCING OR RESCHEDULING OUTDOOR SPORTS,
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE MILD AND COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS EYE, NOSE AND
THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHES OR A MILD COUGH. MORE SERIOUS BUT LESS
COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WHEEZING, CHEST PAINS OR SEVERE COUGH. IF
YOU THINK YOU ARE HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE.
PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION,
INCLUDING PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OLDER, PREGNANT PEOPLE, INFANTS AND
YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH AN EXISTING ILLNESS OR CHRONIC HEALTH
CONDITION, AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS, SHOULD REDUCE OR RESCHEDULE
STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF
EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.
WHEN INDOORS, KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WHEN THERE IS AN EXTREME HEAT EVENT OCCURRING WITH POOR AIR QUALITY,
PRIORITIZE KEEPING COOL.
PROTECT YOUR INDOOR AIR FROM OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION. ACTIONS CAN
INCLUDE USING A CLEAN, GOOD QUALITY AIR FILTER IN YOUR VENTILATION
SYSTEM AND/OR A CERTIFIED PORTABLE AIR CLEANER.
CHECK IN ON OTHERS WHO ARE IN YOUR CARE OR LIVE NEARBY WHO MAY BE
MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION.
ALWAYS FOLLOW GUIDANCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CURRENT AIR QUALITY, VISIT
HTTPS://WWW2.GOV.BC.CA/GOV/CONTENT/ENVIRONMENT/AIR-LAND-WATER/AIR.
VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA
END/PSPC
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