Wednesday brought a dramatic spike in levels of fine particulate matter, as the Mount Underwood forest fire spread thick smoke through the Alberni Valley and beyond.
The wildfire first emerged at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, sending a mushroom cloud of smoke above Mount Underwood, which is near the China Creek Campground and Marina and south of Port Alberni. Over its first day of burning winds trended south, but by Aug. 13 this shifted to the north, sending thick smoke to the nearby City of Port Alberni. As of midday on Thursday, Aug. 14 Mount Underwood had grown to 3,406 hectares, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Environment Canada has issued a health advisory due to the particulate matter in the air.
“As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events,” stated the advisory. “You may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance.”
By the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 13 the thick smoke led to the cancellation of the Tlu-piich Games, two and a half days into the annual Nuu-chah-nulth sporting event. By 2 p.m. that day the volume of fine particles per cubic metre reached 145.9, according to data from an air monitoring station at Alberni Elementary. This is well above the standard of 25 fine particles per cubic metre that the province uses as an acceptable average volume of contaminants in the atmosphere over a 24-hour period. Levels last spiked on Aug. 4 to 55 fine particles, as crews battled another nearby wildfire that burned on the north side of Cameron Lake.
As of 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14 the average volume of fine particles over the previous 24-hour period was 28.71.
Deb Haggard, vice-chairperson of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, advised residents to close their doors and windows if the air is smoky.
“Conditions vary from hour to hour, I’ve noticed in the morning it’s a lot worse,” she said during a press conference on Thursday. “It can cause health risks, especially for children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions. We ask that you recognize this and please stay inside.”
Efforts are underway to open a reception centre for those who don’t have a home, said Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions.
“There are many residents of the city of Port Alberni who are vulnerable and many are unhoused,” she said. “The regional district and the city are jointly working on opening up a reception centre to have a drop-in area for those members of our community to make sure that they are cared for as well and that they have reprieve from the smoke.”
Mount Underwood is currently the only incident designated as a “Wildfire of Note” in B.C., and the largest forest fire Vancouver Island has seen in recent years. Winds have spread its smoke beyond the Alberni Valley, and existing wildfires like Wesley Ridge at Cameron Lake have also affected air quality across British Columbia. On Thursday, Aug. 14 Canada Post announced that mail delivery or pick up would not be happening in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Nanoose Bay due to air quality concerns. Delays in mail service are also expected in Port Alberni and Nanaimo.
