test-updates-feature-branch

testing updates from feature/realease-v4-sakshi

Author: GailR

frontend/warnings/2025-08-28_Issue_PM25_Burns_Lake.md

@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+---
+date: 2025-08-28
+params:
+  burnRestrictions: Yes - Ben
+  customMessage: Current conditions are expected to persist until
+    weather conditions change and/or local emissions are reduced.
+  customMessageBanArea: "within 10km of the Burns Lake firehall until
+    August 29, 2025 10:00 AM local time"
+  ice: Continue
+  issuedate: 2025-07-20
+  location: Prince George
+  outputFormat: markdown
+  pollutant: PM25 & PM10
+  sel_aqMet: Sakshi Jain
+title: Air quality warning and open burning restrictions issued for
+  Burns Lake
+toc-title: Table of contents
+type: local_emissions
+---
+
+<!--
+Copyright 2025 Province of British Columbia
+
+This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
+To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
+-->
+<!-- Logo header, the layout-col should be set based on number of logos including FHNA and BCGov -->
+<!-- the trailing slash means the text in square brackets is alt text -->
+
+::: {layout-ncol= 3 layout-valign="bottom"}
+
+![Government of British Columbia logo](/assets/logo_BCID_V_RGB_pos.png)\
+
+![First Nations Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_FNHA.png)\
+
+![Northern Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_NH.png)\
+
+:::
+
+The Ministry of Environment and Parks in collaboration with the Northern
+Health Authority has issued an Air Quality Warning for Burns Lake due to
+elevated fine particulate matter.
+
+Exposure to fine particulate matter is particularly a concern for
+infants, older adults, individuals with chronic conditions (such as
+asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes) or respiratory infections,
+and those who are pregnant. Persons with chronic underlying medical
+conditions or acute infections should postpone or reduce strenuous
+exercise until the warning is ended. Anyone experiencing symptoms such
+as continuing eye or throat irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of
+breath, cough or wheezing, should follow the advice of their health care
+provider. Staying indoors helps to reduce exposure.
+
+Open burning restrictions are now in effect within 10km of the Burns
+Lake firehall until August 29, 2025 10:00 AM local time. No new fires
+may be initiated, and no additional material may be added to existing
+fires. For more information on burning restrictions, refer to the
+Mandatory Emission Reduction Actions section below.
+
+Visit the provincial [air quality data
+webpage](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-quality)
+for real-time observations.
+
+Current conditions are expected to persist until weather conditions
+change and/or local emissions are reduced.
+
+The next update will be on The next update will be on August 29, 2025
+and posted to the province's [Air Quality Warnings
+webpage](https://www.gov.bc.ca/airquality).
+
+# Actions you can take
+
+As air contaminant levels increase, health risks increase. Consider
+reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.
+
+People more likely to be negatively impacted by outdoor air pollution
+should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek
+medical attention if experiencing symptoms. This includes people aged 65
+and older, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people with
+an existing illness or chronic health condition such as chronic
+obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes, and
+people who work outdoors.
+
+## Follow your common sense
+
+-   Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes
+    uncomfortable or you feel unwell.
+
+-   During warm weather, stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.
+
+-   Always carry any rescue medications with you.
+
+-   Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves
+    follow the same advice.
+
+## Monitor your symptoms
+
+-   Different people have different responses to elevated levels of air
+    contaminants.
+-   Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat
+    irritation, headaches or a mild cough are common, and usually
+    disappear when the air contaminants return to typical levels.
+-   More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains
+    or severe cough.
+-   People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any
+    personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
+-   If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC
+    at 8-1-1.
+-   If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or
+    discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in
+    clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical
+    emergency, call 9-1-1.
+
+## Tips to reduce your exposure to air pollution
+
+-   Air contaminant levels may be lower indoors but will still be
+    elevated, so stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
+
+-   When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
+
+-   When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality,
+    prioritize keeping cool.
+
+-   Protect your indoor air from outdoor air pollution. Actions can
+    include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation
+    system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine
+    particles. Do-it-yourself air cleaners may also be used if other
+    options are not available. For details, visit: https://rb.gy/epi7qv.
+
+-   If you must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting
+    and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified
+    N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to
+    particulate matter. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can
+    still be risks to health.
+
+-   Avoid roads with heavy vehicle traffic.
+
+# Mandatory emission reduction actions
+
+-   Facilities with air discharge authorizations under the Environmental
+    Management Act are required to follow trigger actions within their
+    permit related to Air Quality Warnings and are encouraged to reduce
+    any other emissions where possible.
+
+-   Burns Lake bylaw 871 restricts the use of wood burning appliances
+    during air quality advisories:
+
+    -   **6a**: No person shall use a Wood Burning Appliance at any time
+        when an air quality advisory is in effect, except to heat the
+        premises that are equipped with no heating appliance or
+        facilities other than the Wood Burning Appliance.
+
+    -   Contact the Burns Lake municipal office at
+        [250-692-7587](tel:2506927587) for more information on woodstove
+        restrictions.
+
+-   As pollution is occurring or is likely to occur from open burning,
+    pursuant to Sections 30(1) and 30(2) of the Open Burning Smoke
+    Control Regulation, the Director has prohibited open burning within
+    10km of the Burns Lake firehall until August 29, 2025 10:00 AM local
+    time. No vegetative debris may be ignited or added to ignited piles.
+    Contravention of these provisions may be subject to a fine under the
+    Regulation.
+
+> Date issued: August 28, 2025
+
+> ![](utility/signatures/SignatureAS.png){width="150px"}
+
+> Arvind Saraswat
+
+> Director, Environmental Management Act
+
+> Environmental Monitoring and Analysis Branch
+
+# Voluntary emission reduction actions
+
+-   Reduce vehicle use where possible and avoid idling vehicles.
+
+# More information
+
+Fine particulate matter refers to airborne solid or liquid droplets with
+diameters of 2.5 micrometers ($\mu$µm) or less. PM$_{2.5}$ levels tend
+to be highest around busy roads, industrial operations and
+neighbourhoods with residential wood burning. PM$_{2.5}$ can easily
+penetrate indoors because of their small size. Common sources of
+PM$_{2.5}$ that contribute to episodes of poor air quality vary
+seasonally but can include wood smoke (from wood stoves and/or open
+burning) as well as emissions from industry and transportation sources
+such as automobiles, trucks and rail traffic.
+
+The provincial air quality objective for PM$_{2.5}$ is 25 micrograms per
+cubic metre ($\mu$g/m$^{3}$) averaged over 24 hours. 24-hour average
+PM$_{2.5}$ concentrations are summarized below for Burns Lake and
+nearest monitored communities at 21:00 local time today:
+
+  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  Community                  Burns     Houston   Prince      Smithers   Vanderhoof
+                             Lake                George                 
+  -------------------------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------- ------------
+  24-hr average              10.9      8.4       22.3        8.1        16.6
+  ($\mu$g/m$^{3}$)                                                      
+
+  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## For general information about air quality in British Columbia:
+
+-   Visit the provincial [air quality data
+    webpage](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/air/air-quality)
+    for real-time observations.
+-   View the latest [Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and
+    forecast](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/data/aqhi-table.html)
+-   Visit the provincial [air quality
+    map](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html)
+    to view real-time air quality measurements
+-   [Metro Vancouver's Air Quality Data and
+    Warnings](https://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/air-quality-data-and-advisories)
+
+# Contact information
+
+**Media questions regarding air quality conditions related to this Air
+Quality Warning:**
+
+{{< card_start width="wide" >}} Gail Roth`<br />`{=html}Senior Air
+Quality Meteorologist`<br />`{=html}Ministry of Environment and
+Parks`<br />`{=html}250-645-9358 {{< card_end >}}
+
+**Media questions regarding health implications related to degraded air
+quality:**
+
+{{< card_start  width="wide" >}}Northern Health
+Authority`<br />`{=html}Media Line:
+1-877-961-7724`<br />`{=html}{{< card_end >}}