Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
July 31, 2021 - 10:45 AM
The wildfire smoke in Kamloops has caused the fire department to respond to several fire alarms.
“We definitely had a fire alarm yesterday for smoke from outside,” said Kamloops Fire Rescue Platoon Capt. Darryl Cooper.
“It’s unusual but it’s not unexpected with this amount of smoke.”
Yesterday, crews attended to a smoke detector set off by wildfire smoke in a commercial building, he said adding, they received a few calls about smoke impacting fire alarms within the last few weeks.
“The one we went to, the bay doors were open, so there was a lot of smoke in there.”
He recommends residents to keep doors closed and let an air conditioning filter or furnace filter keep the smoke out of the air.
“Smoke detectors can be set off by steam from a shower too, because of the particulates in the area. Right now, the particulates in the air are setting off detectors,” he said.
Cooper wasn’t aware of any other communities that are also seeing smoke detectors being set off by the smoke.
There is an incredibly high concentration of particles in the air today in Kamloops with the Air Quality Health Index listing the city as 10+, meaning there is a “very high health risk” and residents should avoid strenuous outdoor activities. The health index is measured on a scale of 1 to 10+, with 10+ having the greatest health risk.
A special air quality advisory is also in effect for the region due to wildfire smoke.
With hot and dry temperatures, Cooper also recommends residents to be careful with outdoor activities to prevent wildfires.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021