Update 8:00AM Wednesday
I will post more updates on my SocialBC feed.
BCWildfire just released an update at 7:34AM for the Labour Day Lake fire. It remains at 5.7 hectares, same as last night, but is still classified out of control. 4 crews are working the fire with 2 air tankers and 2 helicopters listed in the response.
Update 5:30AM Wednesday
I will post updates on my SocialBC feed.
Good news and Bad News
Good: PM2.5 levels rose slightly overnight in #portAlberni but not to dangerous levels. The Provincial station at Alberni Elementary got up to 14ug/m3. Readings over 30 are considered fair-poor.
Winds shifted back to ENE so Nahmint smoke should move away.
Bad: new fire East of Port Alberni on the slopes of Mt. Arrowsmith now 5 hectares. Still listed out of control. ENE winds will push this smoke toward city.
Waiting for BCWF update.
#bcwildfire #bcsmoke #airquality
Update 6:50PM Tuesday
The wind has turned around to the south and wildfire smoke is definitely starting to move into or over the Valley. The mountains toward the #NahmintFire are near obscured.
Air Quality at the local stations is still good but I would expect once the afternoon breeze enda this smoke will settle down.
Best to close the windows now to keep the fresh air in.
#airquality #PortAlberni #bcwildfire #bcstorm #vancouverIsland
Air Quality Statement Issued
An Air Quality Statement has been issued for the Inland Vancouver Island area including: Lake Cowichan, Nahmint, Port Alberni, central portions of Strathcona Park and Schoen Lake Provincial Park. The statement reads:
The Regions… are likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24-48 hours. During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour.”
However, this is mostly precautionary at this point as Air Quality is good right now in the Alberni Valley according to AQ sensors in the area including here at Alberniweather. This could change if winds shift to the south, southwest or west.
Wildfire 23 hectares
The latest update from BC Wildfire is now June 10. The fire remains at 23.51 hectares. You can see its status here including pictures from the air and various statistics on crews working the fire.
The most important fact is that is no longer “out of control”. It appears to have climbed straight up one side of Nahmint mountain after being started in or near a cutblock but now been halted.
As you can see in the screen capture below, the perimeter is about 1000m by 500m at its largest.
There was another very small wildfire reported near Kennedy Lake yesterday but it no longer appears on the BCWildfire maps. The next closest is a small fire classified as Being Held near Upper Campbell lake.
Forecast mostly dry
While there is a slight change coming for Wednesday and Thursday with cooler temperatures, the likelihood of precipitation is fading. The model currently has very scattered activity mostly confined to the ridges and mountains on Thursday afternoon with a high of just 15. Otherwise, the picture remains dry and warm through the weekend.
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