Media Release

Air Quality Warning - Fine Particulate Matter

<div class="ExternalClassDDFD30E526B84E0F9AEA8000B2D32C4A"><h3 style="margin:10px 0px;font-weight:700;font-family:montserrat, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#020202;font-size:1.2rem;line-height:1.25;letter-spacing:0px;box-sizing:content-box;background-color:#ffffff;">Air Quality Warning - Fine Particulate Matter </h3> <div class="ExternalClassF0CCED2238AE40BDA24E6BFABBDBDA46" style="box-sizing:content-box;font-family:questrial, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#020202;line-height:1.5;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:0px;background-color:#ffffff;">Metro Vancouver Regional District has issued an air quality warning due to elevated fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Conditions may last until there is a significant change in weather. Cause: Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia, including the South Cariboo and the complex of wildfires near Boston Bar.Smoke levels can change quickly with weather and fire behaviour.<table cellspacing="0" width="100%" class="ms-rteTable-default" style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;letter-spacing:0.3px;"><tbody style="box-sizing:content-box;"><tr style="box-sizing:content-box;"><td class="ms-rteTable-default" style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;letter-spacing:0.3px;width:1165.33px;background-color:#ffcc66;">Orange Air Quality Warning in Effect (Very High Health Risk)Avoid outdoor activities.Where:Fraser Valley<ul style="box-sizing:content-box;margin:20px 0px;padding-left:30px;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;list-style:disc;"><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Eastern – Chilliwack, Agassiz, Hope </li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table> What you can do:<ul style="box-sizing:content-box;margin:20px 0px;padding-left:30px;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;list-style:disc;"><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Check in on others who may be more affected. People at higher risk include those with lung, heart or other chronic conditions, pregnant people, infants, children, older adults, and outdoor workers.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Improve indoor air quality. Use portable HEPA air cleaners or do-it-yourself box fan air cleaners. If your home has a built-in ventilation system, install filters rated MERV 13 or higher to remove smoke. If possible, adjust the ventilation system to reduce smoke coming indoors.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Keep windows and doors closed while running air filtration. If it's hot, focus on staying cool.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Spend time in places with air conditioning if your home is smoky or too hot. Try community centres, libraries, or malls.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Seek medical help if you experience severe symptoms such as wheezing, chest pain, trouble breathing or severe cough. Call 911 in emergencies.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Manage chronic conditions and carry rescue medications with you (e.g. inhalers).</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">If you must be outside, a well-fitted N95, KN95, or KF94 mask offers the most protection. Medical masks offer some protection and single layer coverings (e.g. bandanas, scarfs, shirts) offer none.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">Check the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) often throughout the day because conditions can change quickly. See <a href="https://gis.metrovancouver.org/maps/Air" style="box-sizing:content-box;color:#3072b0;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">airmap.ca</a> or <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%2a3A%2a2F%2a2Fwww.env.gov.bc.ca%2a2Fepd%2a2Fbcairquality%2a2Freadings%2a2Ffind-stations-map.html&data=05%2a7C02%2a7Cprabjit.barn%2a40fraserhealth.ca%2a7C990003af4343471b3d7808dc59b3a623%2a7C31f660a5192a4db392baca424f1b259e%2a7C0%2a7C0%2a7C638483875314144198%2a7CUnknown%2a7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%2a3D%2a7C0%2a7C%2a7C%2a7C&sdata=hnTGAUy5Pxaezbk5QVnnsMBHS1i%2a2B7EgLglNnQNJBvho%2a3D&reserved=0__%3bJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl%21%21A97xj4VDKevydJo%21gu1Du9i4_eH6aKbtQQUkD43gb4v-BK-T2vtDMqjfEUxJB6pmdMylMZz3aYLnaSXwE9AespL3wIzT9j4lVWu2cX26sWb3ge5rshRDJNykF3I$" style="box-sizing:content-box;color:#3072b0;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">gov.bc.ca/airqualitymap</a>.</li></ul>Sign up for air quality alerts at <a href="http://metrovancouver.org/aqalerts" style="box-sizing:content-box;color:#3072b0;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">metrovancouver.org/aqalerts</a> Background:<ul style="box-sizing:content-box;margin:20px 0px;padding-left:30px;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;list-style:disc;"><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;">PM2.5: small particles that affect lung and heart health — major sources include wildfire smoke, vehicles, industry, and burning materials. See: <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke__%3b%21%21A97xj4VDKevydJo%21gu1Du9i4_eH6aKbtQQUkD43gb4v-BK-T2vtDMqjfEUxJB6pmdMylMZz3aYLnaSXwE9AespL3wIzT9j4lVWu2cX26sWb3ge5rshRD9_9kVQc$" style="box-sizing:content-box;color:#3072b0;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">Wildfire Smoke Information</a>.</li><li style="box-sizing:content-box;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.4;letter-spacing:0.3px;margin-bottom:7px;"><a href="/" style="box-sizing:content-box;color:#3072b0;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;">Metro Vancouver</a> monitors air quality, manages emissions, and collaborates with regional and provincial partners.</li></ul>Metro Vancouver has updated its air quality warnings to align with Environment and Climate Change Canada's weather alerts. Warnings will now be issued as yellow (high health risk) and orange (very high health risk) to convey the level of risk to the public and actions they should take to protect their health. </div> </div>

8/15/2026 7:00:00 AM

Metro Vancouver Media Relations