Vancouver braces for heat wave, poor air quality from wildfire smoke
VANCOUVER — Southern British Columbia is bracing for a troubling combination of a heat wave and poor air quality from wildfire smoke, prompting officials to take a number of extraordinary measures to keep residents safe.
The city of Vancouver is opening cooling centres, installing misting stations in public parks and adding temporary water fountains. It is also providing water and sunscreen to homeless people and increasing staff to monitor those sleeping outside.
“We’re concerned,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson on Tuesday.
“Everyone is at risk in the city with heat stroke and exhaustion being realities when we have this combination of impacts, so we’re ramping up efforts to make sure the city has supports in place.”