Metro Vancouver has issued an air quality advisory for the central and eastern Fraser Valley Sunday morning.
The warning comes after an elevated concentration of fine particulate matter from wildfires in Washington state was detected. B.C. Wildfire Service says southerly winds drove the smoke from several blazes south of the border into the province Saturday evening, resulting in poor visibility and air quality issues.
Metro Vancouver says the advisory is expected to continue until there is a change in the weather.
Environment Canada has also issued an air quality alert for the Okanagan, southern interior and Kootenay regions.
A series of wildfires in Washington state has grown to 968 square kilometres, and includes the Stickpin fire burning about 4.5 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S. border.
B.C. fire crews, including 33 fire personnel, three officers and two pieces of heavy machinery, crossed into Washington state on Sunday to help American crews fight the blaze.
Fire information officer Fanny Bernard said the Canadians will be responsible for a northeastern branch of the 192-square kilometre fire.
The fire is still burning out of control, but Bernard said it isn't threatening to cross into Canada anytime soon.
“It's holding steady away from the border,” she said. “There's no significant growth towards the north.”
With files from The Canadian Press
