As evacuation orders and alerts are being lifted and firefighters seemed to be getting a handle on the wildfires, thick smoke continues to hang over Williams Lake and area, creating persistently poor air quality.
As of Thursday morning, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) was the highest in the province with a rating of eight, which indicates there is a high health risk for residents in the Williams Lake area.
Later today, tonight and tomorrow, the air quality is expected to improve to four, or a moderate health risk.
What does that rating mean exactly?
During a High Health Risk rating, the general population should consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if they experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation, according to the government’s BC Air Quality website.
Our at risk population, such as people with breathing problems, should avoid strenuous activities outdoors all together. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion during a High Health Risk rating.
According to the website, if the AQHI has increased to a rating of seven or greater, it is because of high concentrations of smoke particles in the air.
The air quality monitoring station in Williams Lake is located at Lake City Secondary School’s Columneetza Campus.
School District 27 Superintendent Mark Wintjes said administrative staff at all schools within the district are aware of the changing air quality in the areas.
“Fires are still burning throughout the Cariboo Chilcotin and the smoke is going to change. The air quality could be quite different in some areas compared to others. A seven (rating) in Williams Lake could mean a zero in 100 Mile House,” Wintjes said, explaining the district’s approach to poor air quality and whether children remain indoors. “We have made our administrators aware of the air quality website and are letting them make that judgement call to bring the kids indoors on a achool-by-school basis.”
