Wildfire smoke brings air quality warnings to B.C.'s Lower Mainland

Wildfire smoke has prompted an upgraded air quality warning for the eastern Fraser Valley in British Columbia, with officials urging residents to limit time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. Metro Vancouver Regional District said an orange alert, which indicates a very high health risk, is now in place for Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope. The advisory was raised from yellow earlier in the day. The smoky conditions are being driven by large wildfires burning in parts of the province, including areas near Clinton and Boston Bar. The smoke has also affected visibility and air quality across other regions, with moderate health risks reported in parts of the Okanagan and Kamloops. Health officials warned that air quality in Metro Vancouver could worsen over the next few days as smoke shifts south. People with asthma or other respiratory conditions were advised to be especially cautious.