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20250812 aqwarning issue
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---
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author:
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- Muntaseer Azkar
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authors:
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- Muntaseer Azkar
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customMessage: Smoke from the Mount Underwood fire (approximately 12 km
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southeast of Port Alberni) is impacting air quality near Port Alberni
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and areas to the southeast, such as Lake Cowichan. Areas along the
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west coast of Vancouver Island (Tofino to Sooke) may also experience
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periods of smoke, but to a lesser degree.
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date: 2025-08-12
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ice: Issue
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location: Inland Vancouver Island
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params:
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customMessage: "`Custom message.`"
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ice: Issue
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location: Multiple locations in B.C.
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nextUpdate: 2025-02-10
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sel_aqMet: Sakshi Jain
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selRegionsIDs:
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- Watson Lake
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- Prince George
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- Whistler
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- South Okanagan
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smokeDuration: "`24-48 hours`"
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smokeDuration: 24-48 hours
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title: Air Quality Warning - Wildfire Smoke
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toc-title: Table of contents
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type: wildfire_smoke
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---
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<!--
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Copyright 2025 Province of British Columbia
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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-->
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<!-- Logo header, the layout-col should be set based on number of logos including FHNA and BCGov-->
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<!-- the trailing slash means the text in square brackets is alt text -->
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::: {layout-ncol= 3 layout-valign="bottom"}
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![Government of British Columbia logo](/assets/logo_BCID_V_RGB_pos.png)\
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![First Nations Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_FNHA.png)\
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![Vancouver Island Health Authority logo](/assets/logo_VIH.png)\
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:::
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The Regions of BC highlighted on the map are being impacted or are
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likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24-48 hours.
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Smoke from the Mount Underwood fire (approximately 12 km southeast of
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Port Alberni) is impacting air quality near Port Alberni and areas to
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the southeast, such as Lake Cowichan. Areas along the west coast of
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Vancouver Island (Tofino to Sooke) may also experience periods of smoke,
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but to a lesser degree.
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During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short
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distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour.
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Monitor the situation for any wildfires near your area at
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[EmergencyInfoBC](https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/). Follow all
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emergency announcements relevant to your location.
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The next update will be available on August 13, 2025 and made available
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on the Province's [Air Quality Warnings
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webpage](https://aqwarnings.gov.bc.ca/).
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![A description of Region(s) included in this Air Quality Warning is
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provided at the end of this page. This Air Quality Warning excludes the
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area managed by Metro Vancouver. Refer to the More Information section
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for a link to air quality notifications issued by Metro
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Vancouver.](2025-08-12_wildfire_smoke_issue_map.html){fig-alt="Air Quality Warning - Wildfire Smoke Regions for August 12, 2025: Inland Vancouver Island."
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width="100%" height="600px"}
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## Actions you can take
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As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Limit time outdoors.
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Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.
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People more likely to be negatively impacted by outdoor air pollution
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should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek
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medical attention if experiencing symptoms. This includes people aged 65
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and older, pregnant individuals, infants and young children, people with
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an existing illness or chronic health condition such as chronic
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obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes, and
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people who work outdoors.
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## During smoky conditions
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{{< accordion_controls >}}
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{{< accordion_start title="Follow your common sense" initiallyOpen="true" >}}
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- Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes
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uncomfortable or you feel unwell.
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- Stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.
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- Carry any rescue medications with you at all times.
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- Make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves
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follow the same advice.
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{{< accordion_end >}}
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{{< accordion_start title="Monitor your symptoms" initiallyOpen="true" >}}
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- Different people have different responses to smoke.
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- Mild irritation and discomfort such as eye, nose and throat
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irritation, headaches or a mild cough are common, and usually
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disappear when the smoke clears.
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- More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains
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or severe cough.
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- People with asthma or other chronic illness should follow any
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personal care plans designed with their family physicians.
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- If you are unsure whether you need medical care, call HealthLink BC
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at 8-1-1.
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- If you are experiencing difficulty in breathing, chest pain or
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discomfort, or a severe cough, contact your physician, walk-in
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clinic, or emergency department. If you are having a medical
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emergency, call 9-1-1.
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{{< accordion_end >}}
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{{< accordion_start title="Tips to reduce your smoke exposure" initiallyOpen="true" >}}
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- Smoke levels may be lower indoors but will still be elevated, so
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stay aware of your symptoms even when you are indoors.
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- When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
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- When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality,
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prioritize keeping cool.
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- Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Actions can include
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using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system
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and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine
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particles.
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- If you must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting
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and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified
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N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine
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particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there
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can still be risks to health.
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- Check on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more
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likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke.
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- Always follow guidance from local authorities.
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{{< accordion_end >}}
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## More information
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**For additional general information about wildfire smoke and air
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quality:**
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::: bcds-card-wrapper
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{{< card_start title="Air Quality Health Index" variant="info" logo="/assets/icon_air.svg" >}}
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Provincial summary of latest index and forecast.
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[What's the air like
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today?](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/data/aqhi-table.html)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="Air Quality Map" variant="info" logo="/assets/icon_air.svg" >}}
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Provincial air quality data refreshed every hour.
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[Latest air quality
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data](https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="Environment and Climate Change Canada FireWork" variant="danger" logo="/assets/icon_smoke.svg" >}}
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Air quality maps of next 72 hours.
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[Air quality forecast maps](https://weather.gc.ca/firework/index_e.html)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="FireSmoke Canada" variant="danger" logo="/assets/icon_smoke.svg" >}}
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BlueSky Canada smoke forecasting system.
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[Smoke forecasts](https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="Metro Vancouver Air Quality" variant="success" logo="/assets/icon_chart.svg" >}}
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Advisories and map of air quality and weather data.
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[Air quality data and
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warnings](https://metrovancouver.org/services/air-quality-climate-action/air-quality-data-and-advisories)
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{{< card_end >}}
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:::
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**For additional general information about wildfire smoke and your
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health:**
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::: bcds-card-wrapper
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{{< card_start title="BC Centre for Disease Control" logo="/assets/logo_BCCDC.png" >}}
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Fact sheets on wildfire smoke and its health impacts.
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[Wildfire
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smoke](http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke)
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{{< card_end >}}{{< card_start title="First Nations Health Authority" logo="/assets/logo_FNHA_horizontal.png" >}}
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Information and resources to help you prepare.
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[Wildfire smoke health
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information](https://www.fnha.ca/about/news-and-events/news/wildfire-smoke-health-information)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="HealthLink BC" logo="/assets/logo_BCID_HealthLinkBC_RGB_pos.png" >}}
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Learn and prepare for wildfires. Phone 8-1-1 for 24/7 health advice.
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[Wildfires and your
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health](https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-library/health-features/wildfires-and-your-health)
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{{< card_end >}}
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{{< card_start title="Worksafe BC" logo="/assets/logo_worksafebc.jpg" >}}
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Info on working outdoors during smoky conditions.
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[Wildfire
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FAQ](https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/information-sheets/wildfire-smoke-frequently-asked-questions-faq)
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{{< card_end >}}
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:::
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## Contact
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**Media and public inquiries regarding air quality and the Air Quality
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Warning for wildfire smoke:**
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{{< card_start width="wide" >}} Muntaseer Azkar`<br />`{=html}Air
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Quality Meteorologist`<br />`{=html}Ministry of Environment and
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Parks`<br />`{=html}604-558-9508 {{< card_end >}}
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**Media questions regarding health implications of wildfires:**
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{{< card_start width="wide" >}} First Nations Health
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Authority`<br />`{=html}Environmental Public Health Services or Main
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FNHA Line: 604-693-6500 `<br />`{=html}After Hours:
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1-844-666-0711`<br />`{=html}Email:
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Ephs.afterhours@fnha.ca`<br />`{=html}Media line:
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604-831-4898`<br />`{=html}
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Vancouver Island Health Authority`<br />`{=html}Dominic Abassi:
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250-755-7966 (Dominic.abassi@viha.ca)`<br />`{=html}Andrew Leyne:
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250-370-8908 (Andrew.leyne@viha.ca)`<br />`{=html}After-hours media
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line: 250-716-7750`<br />`{=html} {{< card_end >}}
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## Regions included under this Air Quality Warning
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- Inland Vancouver Island: includes Lake Cowichan, Nahmint, Port
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Alberni, central portions of Strathcona Park and Schoen Lake
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Provincial Park.

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