Heat and smoke warnings prompt concern for those with health issues

The warning tells of a period of hot weather expected to remain over the province into early next week.

Meantime, Interior Health is warning residents to heed the signs of heat-related illness.

Medical Health Officer Dr. Sue Pollock says symptoms can range from quite mild to very severe.

Pollock says heat-related illness can be prevented by staying indoors in air conditioning and drinking plenty of cool, non-alcoholic fluids.

Meanwhile, the Goode’s Creek wildfire, burning southwest of Kelowna, continues to challenge fire crews battling several Okanagan fires.

The wildfire service tweeted yesterday evening that the nearly six-square-kilometre blaze in Okanagan Mountain Park has seen an increase in activity, and — although it’s not threatening any homes or structures — it’s still considered out of control.

It’s also difficult to battle because it’s burning in steep, rocky terrain where new growth that has returned since the huge 2003 wildfire charred the same area, meaning there’s little shade for firefighters coping with temperatures that hit 33 degrees yesterday.

However, the wildfire service says the 23-hectare Peachland Creek fire, 16-hectare Law Creek fire and one-square-kilometre Mount Conkle fire — which all threatened homes when they were sparked in the Okanagan Valley last week — will be removed as “fires of note” today because they are all in patrol status.

(CKIZ, The Canadian Press)

by Doug Collins/ The Canadian Press

Heat and smoke warnings prompt concern for those with health issues

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