It’s been a brutal few weeks for not just BC’s wildfire situation, but for the province’s weather situation, with drought conditions sticking around. We’re not halfway through the wildfire season, according to some of the province’s top officials who gave an update on Tuesday morning.

In the past few weeks alone, the BC Wildfire Service had its first fatality in a little more than two decades, losing Devyn Gale, with the Service’s spokesperson Cliff Chapman sharing on Tuesday that this was a loss the entire group continues to grieve.

The death of nine-year-old Carter Vigh of 100 Mile House, in an unusual move, prompted a warning from the BC Coroners Service which confirmed it was investigating his death and its potential connections “related to an existing medical condition aggravated by wildfire smoke.”

“The tragic loss of life during the 2021 heat dome resulted in far greater public awareness of the potentially fatal impacts of extreme heat,” the coroners’ bulletin goes on to say. “Our communities are now becoming more aware of the risks presented by wildfire smoke and the measures that can be taken to reduce those risks.”

The Coroners’ Service went on to provide two links locals may want to keep track of throughout the summer:

• A piece looking at the impacts of wildfire smoke, based on information from the BC Centre for Disease Control

• A link to air quality subscription service notifications from the province

“The models don’t look very great for the rest of the summer…July and August being our core, our prime fire season…we do not see rainfall, as we do at times see it in May and June,” Chapman went on to say. “Right now, Environment Canada is forecasting warmer than average conditions,” he added, elaborating that while there might be bit of rain over some parts of the province, it wouldn’t make much of a difference, particularly with more warm weather en route to the South Coast.

“The voluntary reduction of conservation that [everyone] can engage in is extremely important,” said Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma on Tuesday, adding this would require efforts from both individual residents and municipalities. “For a lot of communities, they are in an OK place right now, but they have to recognize that there are going to be extremely low recharge rates,” she underscored, adding that reservoir refill rates could likely be “next to nothing.”

What can I do as a resident?

There are a couple of ways to stay safe in the heat and potential smoke, and to work on conserving water levels in anticipation of the weeks ahead.

Staying cool

• Get familiar with New Westminster’s stay cool map. It’s the easiest way to figure out where cooling and misting stations are. Currently, there are four cooling stations and 13 misting stations, though two more—one at Sapperton Plaza and one at Moody Park—should be completed by the end of this month.

• Check on neighbours and vulnerable populations. During the 2021 heat dome, most of those who died in New West were based on the Brow of the Hill, and typically older residents. At the time, the city’s Cory Hansen told The Anchor that while they were working to communicate with as many people as possible, neighbours building relationships with one another also had the potential to be lifesaving, especially in an emergency.

• Applying for an air conditioner. Low-income residents in apartments or condos are able to apply for an air conditioner through BC Hydro. While our city runs its own electrical utility, eligible New Westminster residents can still apply for a unit online. There are also rebates available—see if you qualify.

• A note on air conditioners in buildings. Despite New Westminster taking the largest hit per capita during the 2021 heat dome, as reported by CBC Vancouver some residents are receiving letters from landlords telling them not to run their AC units. While this is an issue that would require a resolution over a longer period of time, there are at least two members of council who want to see that change. Couns. Nadine Nakagawa and Tasha Henderson are set to present a motion to council on this at the next scheduled meeting in late August.

Conserving water

• Get familiar with the current water restrictions. Stage 1 of the Water Shortage Response Plan is in effect, and usually goes from May 1 to Oct. 15. There are full exemptions for edible plants, as well as some flexibility for lawns being treated with Nematodes; for the latter you must have a Lawn Watering Permit. Fines, depending on the stage of water restriction we’re in, can range from $100 to $1,000.

• Lawn and plant care. Some of the recommendations include using a hose timer and drip irrigation to keep grass healthy. This can help limit the amount of water used.

• Alternate tools. Using a broom instead of water to clean driveways can help the effort.

• Using a rain barrel. The water from rain barrels can be used to water gardens and wash outside surfaces. While it may not be the best time to try and catch the virtually non-existent rain, the City of New Westminster does have a rain barrel program you can take advantage of.

• Plant picks. Picking plants that are local to your area can help them thrive when conditions are challenging. Great Plant Picks is one resource the city recommends using.

Understanding smoky conditions

• Metro Vancouver. Metro Vancouver is typically good at getting information out about air quality advisories and bulletins. They have a Twitter account that they frequently post to, particularly where advisories and bulletins are involved, and they also post advisories to their website. You can also find them on Facebook.

• Use the air map. You can check this map to see how the air quality in your area is.

• FireWork. Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System, referred to as FireWork, provides predictions as to how wildfire smoke is expected to move. 

• How to protect your health when the air isn’t the greatest. There are a number of tips and suggestions that can also be found Metro Vancouver’s website. The information also explains how the air quality advisories, air quality statements, and smoky skies bulletins work.

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