By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

‘Coming from all directions:’ wildfire smoke expected to linger over Nanaimo

Aug 13, 2018 | 2:43 PM

NANAIMO — Environment Canada says people in the Nanaimo area should prepare to deal with smoky skies for the foreseeable future.

Meteorologist Armel Castellan said a ridge of high pressure building off the coast since Sunday will trap the smoke hanging over the region.

Castellan said Nanaimo’s air is being affected by smoke from several different fires.

“The chaos of the atmosphere is so complex…When I look at Nanaimo, the origins of the smoke are really from all over. Some of it is from south of the border, some from the very large fires in the northern interior. It’s coming from almost all directions,” he said, adding the Nanaimo Lakes fire is part of the equation and is blowing smoke to Victoria and the Lower Mainland.

He said the current northwesterly airflow is compounding the problem.

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While it’s impossible to predict fire activity and just how bad the air quality will become, Castellan believed the smoky skies would linger for at least the next week or two.

Despite the hazy conditions, Nanaimo’s Air Quality Health Index remained relatively low at level 3, a low risk, on Monday afternoon.

A special air quality statement issued Monday morning by Environment Canada for the region said conditions can change quickly and “People with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly, infants, children and sensitive individuals are more likely to experience health effects from smoke exposure.”

Nearly 600 wildfires are currently burning around B.C.

Meanwhile, the BC Wildfire Service said the Nanaimo Lakes fire is 50 per cent contained and entering a “long mop up phase.” Due to the size of the fire and difficulty of the terrain, it could be one or several weeks before it’s considered officially under control. While the fire is believed to have been started by people, the official cause is still under investigation.

Two very small spot fires sparked by lightning west of Nanaimo in the Blackjack Ridge area are considered out.

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