Smoke not expected to clear anytime soon in PG: Environment Canada

As anyone who has looked outside today (Wednesday) would know, the smoke is bad in Prince George.

For most of the day, Prince George had the worst air quality of any city in Canada – climbing to as high as 412 on the Air Quality Index, followed by Vanderhoof at 369.

“The smoke is all due to the out-of-control fires west of the Prince George region,” Johnson Zhong, an Environment Canada Meteorologist, told My PG Now. “The wind pattern is going to stay there for the next few days.”

Zhong does not expect the winds to shift and rain to fall until Sunday afternoon (July 16), which he said should provide temporary relief.

On Tuesday, however, he said the winds are expected to shift back, and the smoke from the fires west of Prince George to drift over the city again.

There are currently 140 fires burning in the Prince George Fire Centre, and another 84 in the Northwest Fire Centre, which is where most of the smoke is blowing in from right now.

Over 1.2 million hectares have been burned so far this year, the province is well on its way to the worst wildfire season on record.

The current highest number of hectares burned in the province is 1.35 million, recorded in 2018.

Zhong reminded residents the smoke presents a potential hazard to everyone, but especially to people with respiratory and other health issues.

Environment Canada has placed Prince George at a 6/10 for risk associated with the smoke, which is the upper edge of moderate.

Take it easy when it’s smoky outdoors.
To stay active, try taking a walk in a mall or following an exercise video at home instead when the air quality is bad outside.
Learn more about the health effects of smoke and how to stay safe in smoky conditions: https://t.co/Vgnql3QuTR pic.twitter.com/R67nADJxW3

— Northern Health (@Northern_Health) July 12, 2023