Free N95 masks available in Rock Creek as wildfire smoke continues
A stock photo of an N95 respirator. Health officials recommend well-fitting respirators such as N95s to help reduce exposure to fine particles in wildfire smoke.
ROCK CREEK — The Riverside Centre in Rock Creek says it is offering free N95 masks to anyone who needs one as wildfire smoke continues to affect the Boundary.
The Boundary remained under a Yellow Air Quality Warning Tuesday morning, with Environment and Climate Change Canada saying the region is being impacted or is likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke over the next 24 to 48 hours. The warning, updated at 4:44 a.m. Aug. 18, carries a moderate impact level and high forecast confidence.
The Riverside Centre announced earlier this month that free N95 masks were available because of smoke affecting the community. The centre has not indicated that its supply is connected to a separate provincial and Canadian Red Cross mask-distribution program announced Aug. 15.
The provincial program is providing free N95 respirators and medical masks in several Interior communities, including Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Kamloops, Merritt, Ashcroft, Chase and Williams Lake. No Boundary community was included on the province's published list of distribution locations.
Health officials recommend reducing exposure to wildfire smoke, postponing or cutting back strenuous outdoor activity when conditions are smoky and spending time in cleaner indoor air. A well-fitted N95 respirator can help reduce exposure to the fine particulate pollution found in wildfire smoke when people need to be outside.
Smoke conditions can change considerably over short distances and from hour to hour depending on fire activity and weather. People with health conditions that make them more susceptible to smoke are encouraged to take additional precautions.
The Riverside Centre is located at 3990 Highway 3 in Rock Creek. Because the masks are being offered while supplies are available, residents travelling specifically to pick one up may want to confirm availability with the centre first.
B.C. manufacturers facing a new 50 per cent U.S. tariff received an eleventh-hour reprieve Tuesday night after the United States postponed the measure for three days while Canada and the U.S. try to finalize a trade agreement.