Smoke from more than 1,400 wildfires prompted multiple air quality advisories across British Columbia Monday, with health officials warning those with respiratory problems to beat the heat and stay inside.
The province's Ministry of Environment says smoke from fires burning in B.C.'s Interior has deteriorated the air quality in many regions to poor levels, forcing the agency to issue warnings in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Tuesday afternoon.
Elevated levels of fine particulates have been detected at monitoring stations across the region, especially in parts of the Lower Fraser Valley. Conditions are expected to persist for at least 24 hours because of the hot and sunny weather forecast for the entire area.
The dense smoke also prompted advisories for the northern, central and east coast of Vancouver Island, as well as the Bulkley Valley & Lakes District.
A heat wave scorching B.C.'s south coast, predicted to last until late this week, has caused high or extreme wildfire danger for nearly three-quarters of the province.
More than 25 new blazes were sparked over the weekend, while several other intense wildfires grew in size quickly.
Almost 400 personnel are working on a series of fires known as the Meldrum Creek complex, west of Williams Lake. The fire, which covers more than 370 square kilometres, has many residents on evacuation alert.
Hot and dry conditions contributed to the growth of a 184-square kilometre blaze southwest of Prince George. Evacuation orders expanded in the area for the Pelican Lake fire Sunday.
About 300 firefighters from Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario arrived Sunday to cover off a large contingent of exhausted personnel who have worked the maximum amount of days allowed.
There are currently more than 3,000 firefighters battling 260 wildfires burning in B.C.
A total of 1,434 fires have scorched more than 1,700 square kilometres since April. About 550 fires are said to be human caused. Roughly half are caused by lightning.
