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UPDATED: Environment Ministry, Interior Health lift smoky skies advisory for Creston Valley

Advisory recommends that residents avoid strenuous outdoor activities in southern areas of Okanagan, Boundary and Kootenay regions...
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A smoky sky over the Creston Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Monday afternoon:

The smoky skies advisory issued Saturday by the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health Authority has been lifted.

"While some wildfires remain active, the gradually subsiding wildfire activity has reduced the amounts of smoke and resulted in improving air quality," said a press release. "The Ministry of Environment will continue to monitor the situation as meteorological conditions and wildfire activity evolve over the next few days."

 

Sunday morning:

Creston was included in a smoky skies advisory issued yesterday by the Ministry of Environment and Interior Health Authority. The advisory covers the southern areas of the Okanagan, Boundary and Kootenay regions, including Oliver, Osoyoos, Rock Creek, Grand Forks, Castlegar and Creston.

“These areas are affected by local and transboundary smoke from forest fires burning in the region and south of the border,” said the advisory. “Smoke concentrations will vary widely as winds, fire behaviour and temperatures change.”

The advisory recommends that residents avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

“If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact your health care provider: difficulty in breathing, chest pain or discomfort, and sudden onset of cough or irritation of airways,” it said. “Exposure is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and those who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, and lung or heart disease.”

The advisory is in effect until further notice.

General information about smoke and your health is available by calling HealthLink BC toll-free at 811 or visiting www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbaltindex.asp; real-time air quality information in Grand Forks, Castlegar, Creston and other communities is available at www.bcairquality.ca; for health tipes, visit www.interiorhealth.ca, click on the Your Environment tab, then Emergency Information > Forest Fire, and under the “During” tab, scroll to Your health and living with smoky skies.