science environment

Wildfire Smoke Envelops Large Parts Of British Columbia

By Lizzy Duffy (OPB)
Portland, Oregon July 7, 2015 11:15 p.m.
The satellite image over British Columbia's Vancouver Island was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard the Terra satellite on July 5, 2015.

The satellite image over British Columbia's Vancouver Island was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard the Terra satellite on July 5, 2015.

NASA

You would think that Vancouver, British Columbia, residents would be breathing a little easier following the end of the Women's World Cup, but smoke from nearby fires is making it near impossible.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

NASA said the blanket of smoke is coming from the the Boulder Creek Fire complex that's been burning since June northeast of Vancouver and now cover about 58 square miles. The haze had some effects on the recent Women's World Cup games in the city, but the smoke has gotten worse over the past day, causing an orange glow over the city. Officials report that the fires were started by lightning.

With more than 180 wildfires burning throughout B.C., CBC reports the smoke is so bad over Vancouver that health officials are warning residents to stay inside, comparing the air quality to that of Beijing.

There are about 20 wildfires currently burning in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: