Air Quality Hits 'Red' In WL

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:05 AM

Prince George, B.C. - With fires burning around the City of Williams Lake, and a threat they could cross the Fraser River and head into the community, the air quality health index for the city has plummeted.

According to the B.C. Air Quality webpage, the current AQHI in Williams Lake is 11, or 'very high health risk'. And there is little change expected through to tomorrow, when the rating is expected to improve to about a level 7, which is still a 'high health risk' rating.

In comparison, AQHI ratings for Quesnel and Prince George sit at 5 and 4, respectively, which means the air quality poses moderate health risks. Although, both communities are forecast to hit level 10 this evening.

Wildfire smoke advisories, issued jointly by the Ministry of Environment and Northern Health, continue for both Prince George and Vanderhoof with the level of fine particulates exceeding provincial objectives. Air Quality Meteorologist, Dennis Fudge, says levels have improved somewhat in Vanderhoof, but there are high hourly values over the area.

Fudge says conditions in both communities are expected to continue until late this afternoon when a cold front is expected to move through the region.

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Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:05 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: faxman on August 18 2010 11:43 AM

It's disgusting out there today. Crap, where's winter when you really need it?

Posted by: DPJ on August 18 2010 11:47 AM

Smoke burning my eyes. Must be a 10 out there now.

Posted by: myusername61 on August 18 2010 12:11 PM

I really can't believe it's only a 4 or 5 here. It's worse than it's been yet.

Posted by: kolberg on August 18 2010 12:29 PM

Last night WL was listed at 17 on a scale of 1 - 10+. It must be bad.

Posted by: He spoke on August 18 2010 1:55 PM

Noticed that the air quality site has an error. Way to go Environment Canada, when we need it the most, your shut down. What a waste of money that bunch are.

Hey I don't hear anything from the city and its air fairies. What, are they planning to fine mother nature for the smoke infractions.

It was clearing up near Isle Pierre. So I think we are just in the middle of the drift of smoke.

Posted by: He spoke on August 18 2010 1:58 PM

I said it here first, Mark my words, some dumb @$$ bleeding hearted tree hugger is going to be claiming how bad our air is because of all this industry we have here. They will claim it on the information that is on the website of BC Air Quality, August 18, 2010.

Posted by: NMG on August 18 2010 3:50 PM

So He Spoke, if the MOE measuring tools are indeed confirming that the air is bad (which you seem to agree with and so should anyone right now) then logically it should follow that those measurement tools are reliable.

I don't think anyone can reasonably argue that the fires aren't playing a huge role in regards to our current state of bad air, but what is your explanation for the high levels of particulate (and related AQ advisories) that often get measured by these same tools, when there are no fires occuring? Are those make believe?

As an aside, can you explain why I detected a very sweet pulp mill like smell coming into work today, mixed in with the smell of wood smoke? Very bizarre I know. Oh and for the record, I drive a truck, I own fishing rods, I eat animals and I've never hugged a tree, LOL.

Posted by: gus on August 18 2010 10:34 PM

"I said it here first, Mark my words, some dumb @$$ bleeding hearted tree hugger is going to be claiming how bad our air is because of all this industry we have here."

Let me be that "dumb @$$ bleeding hearted tree hugger" for a moment just for the fun of it.

We are told by foresters that the reason we have these swings of major natural disturbances is because of our silviculture practices of cutting mixed forests and replanting to produce monocultures and even aged stands coupled with fire suppression.

So, rather than natural forest rejuvenation in smaller patches resulting in smaller fire disturbances, we get major natural disturbances that send smoke for 100+ km for weeks at a time.

So, no, it is not the chimneys of industry, it is the silviculture practices of industry. Their wood fibre farming techniques leave a lot to be desired. :-)

Posted by: gus on August 18 2010 10:36 PM

NMG ... I hugged a tree once and got sap all over me! ... I decided right there and then, never again!

Posted by: gus on August 18 2010 10:38 PM

BTW, he might have been saying that the site has none of the key cities listed. That is the case right now and may have been that way earlier in the day as well.