B.C.’s provincial health officer to hold news conference amid wildfire smoke warnings
VANCOUVER — B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is set to hold a news conference today as much of the southern half of the province remains blanketed in wildfire smoke.
VANCOUVER — BC's provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, is scheduled to hold a news conference today as the southern part of the province is still engulfed in wildfire smoke. The press briefing will also feature Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar. The air quality warnings for the province are marked by orange and yellow levels, due to major fires burning near Boston Bar and in the Cariboo and Okanagan regions.
Over 120 wildfires are currently active in BC, with several having destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham urged residents to support businesses impacted by the wildfires. She emphasized that this is the most crucial time of the year for businesses that have faced evacuations, road closures, smoke, and operational disruptions instead of normal operations.
Popham stated that as families, workers, and small businesses in Summerland and the Okanagan continue to address and recover from wildfires and evacuations, British Columbians can show their support for affected farmers by purchasing locally made products. This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on August 18, 2026.
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