Metro Vancouver will restrict open burning in all areas of Metro Vancouver, effective immediately.
The restriction will last until April 15.
Under these restrictions, no new burning of vegetative debris may be initiated in Metro Vancouver and no additional material can be added to fires.
This prohibition comes as cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to increase across the province.
Research by the BC Center for Disease Control and others has shown that exposure to air pollution can increase susceptibility to respiratory viral infections like COVID-19 by decreasing immune function.
This means that deterioration in air quality may lead to more COVID-19 infections, or to more severe cases of the disease. Improvements to overall air quality may help to protect the whole population from COVID-19 and its potentially severe effects.
Smoke emissions from open-air burning of vegetative debris contain fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and other harmful compounds.
Metro Vancouver currently authorizes emissions from open-air burning of vegetative debris through site-specific approvals.
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