11.75°C Vancouver

Sep 14, 2020 3:39 PM -

U.S. wildfire smoke blankets B.C., wafts east to Alberta, affecting air quality

Share On
u-s-wildfire-smoke-blankets-b-c-wafts-east-to-alberta-affecting-air-quality
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Environment Canada says air quality advisories posted across most of British Columbia since last week should spread east across Alberta due to wildfire smoke from the United States.

Air quality statements have been issued for four regions of southwestern Alberta along the Rockies but the weather office says alerts will likely expand before smoke exits that province tonight.

Relief will not come as quickly for B.C. residents, with the air quality index showing smoky conditions will improve only marginally by Tuesday.

The index uses a scale of one to 10 to rank risk from stagnant or smoky air and currently lists the risk at 10-plus for all but the northern quarter of B.C.

A dense, fog-like haze shrouds many cities, from Victoria and Vancouver east to Kelowna, Kamloops and the Kootenay region, turning day into a misty, smoke-tainted twilight.

The smoke comes from hundreds of wildfires burning in Washington state, Oregon and California, that have destroyed whole communities and killed at least 35 people.

Latest news

major-police-operation-near-kilmore-crescent-area-in-surrey-sps-confirms-multiple-arrests
BCOct 05, 2025

Major police operation near Kilmore Crescent area in Surrey, SPS confirms multiple arrests

A major police operation was carried out in the area of ​​Kilmore Crescent, near 152nd Street and 60th Avenue, in Surrey today. During this time, a large number of police officers approached a house in the area and multiple people were arrested. The police are yet to release any official information in the case, but some residents of the neighborhood told the Connect FM team that at least 3 people were arrested. Connect FM spoke to Sergeant Tige Pollock, Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police Service, for more information on the matter. He said “a police team is still at the property
anand-set-to-host-fellow-g7-foreign-ministers-in-november-near-niagara-falls
CanadaOct 03, 2025

G7 Foreign Ministers to Meet in Niagara Region Next Month for Security and Economic Talks

Canada will host foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations next month for two days of high-level discussions on global security and economic resilience. The meetings, scheduled for November 11 and 12, will take place in Ontario’s Niagara Region. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand will chair the session, welcoming her counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and representatives of the European Union. The gathering follows a ministerial meeting held in Quebec earlier this year and the G7 leaders’ summit in Alberta in June. Global Affai
police-first-responders-scramble-to-help-woman-give-birth-on-victoria-waterfront
BCOct 03, 2025

Police, first responders scramble to help woman give birth on Victoria waterfront

Emergency responders in Victoria, B.C., had to rush into action to support a woman giving birth on Wharf Street, along the city's busy waterfront area. Victoria police say an officer and St. John Ambulance members were working at a local event on Sept. 20 when a passerby notified them of a woman in labour. Police say the officer and other responders found the woman who was in active labour and helped support her along with other members of the public. The newborn was delivered before paramedics could arrive. Police say the baby appeared healthy while being cared for by emergency responders, al
b-c-public-workers-expand-pickets-again-to-more-liquor-cannabis-retail-stores
BCOct 03, 2025

B.C. public workers expand pickets again to more liquor, cannabis retail stores

Striking public service workers in British Columbia have expanded pickets at provincial liquor and cannabis stores again, adding 20 more locations to the list. The B.C. General Employees’ Union says the escalation also includes job action by front-line staff at several ministry offices. It says more than 17,000 public service workers are now taking job action across the province, which is half the 34,000 workers represented by the union. Union president Paul Finch says in a statement that every day the government delays, pressure on public services will grow, and it will continue to step up
kapil-sharmas-kaps-cafe-reopens-in-canada
BCOct 03, 2025

Kap's Cafe reopens again after second shooting incident

Kap's Cafe, which was the target of two shootings in Surrey, has reopened again. The cafe was closed for about 10 days after the first shooting on July 10. Kapil Sharma had initially shared a post about the cafe's reopening, but within weeks of reopening in July, the cafe was again the target of a shooting in early August. The cafe reopened again on October 1, the Connect FM team reached the cafe on Thursday (Oct. 2nd) and tried to get comments from the cafe manager. The manager denied any comment on camera and said that the management had refused to provide any official information. At aroun

Related News