Smoke from more than 70 B.C. wildfires puts parts of Western Washington in haze



PORT ANGELES -- Smoke from more than 70 wildfires around British Columbia has drifted south of the border, giving a hazy, smoky air to Port Angeles, the San Juan Islands and other towns in Washington state.

According to the CBC, smoke from wildfires around British Columbia cast a haze over Vancouver and Victoria Sunday. Many people in Port Angeles also reported a heavy air filled with smoke.

Officials with the National Park Service confirmed the smoke was indeed from multiple Canadian wildfires, originating largely from the Kootenays, Port Hardy and Boulder Creek wildfires. More than 70 wildfires greater than 10 hectares burned in B.C., with more than 170 total wildfires reported.

911 dispatchers in Port Angeles have been swamped with calls regarding the smoke, officials said. Officials told concerned residents the smoke did not arise from the Paradise Fire in the Olympic National Park, or signify increased danger from that fire.

Residents were asked to not call 911 to report smoke, unless it was from a nearby fire, as it was causing system backup.

Dry weather continues to cause tinder-like conditions across the Northwest and Canada.