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Wildfire smoke produces “unhealthy” conditions in some areas of the US Northwest and British Columbia

wildfire smoke map
The distribution of wildfire smoke, current as of 2:09 p.m. MDT August 3, 2017.

Above: The distribution of wildfire smoke, current as of 2:09 p.m. MDT August 3, 2017.

(Originally published at 2:50 p.m. MDT August 3, 2017)

Smoke from wildfires in the United States Northwest and southern British Columbia is accumulating in those areas causing, in some areas, significant degradations in air quality. In British Columbia many massive fires combined with light winds has resulted in the smoke not being transported out of the area.

air quality smoke united states
Air quality August 3, 2017 for western Canada and parts of Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Some areas in BC, western Montana, and the western portions of Washington and Oregon have “unhealthy” air quality today, according to Air Now.

air quality smoke west canada


Information on a BC government website today shows that the air quality in Williams Lake and Kamloops is virtually off the charts and is described as “Very High Health Risk”.

Much of this near-real time air quality information is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, which some politicians want to completely shut down.

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