Vancouver rundown for Thursday, September 4,
2025. Blame wildfire smoke and the warm, dry
weather for that bad air around the Lower Mainland.
A visible layer of haze will continue to hang
for the next several days over the Fraser Valley,
Metro Vancouver, Sea to Sky, and other parts
of BC. Air quality advisories are in effect.
Those bothered by the smoke are advised to stay
indoors, close the windows, and use air filters.
Meanwhile, more than two days after a wildfire
broke out in the hills next to the Coquihalla
Highway, a blaze is so far out of control that
the route between Hope and Merritt has had to
be shut down. The Mine Creek wildfire was discovered
Monday. The Coquihalla was closed late Wednesday
afternoon. Some people are speculating on social
media. The province allowed the situation to
escalate by underestimating the need for greater
initial action. There are no fatalities or serious
injuries after a helicopter and its wildfire
attack crew made a forced landing in the backcountry
near Pemberton. Rescuers, along with paramedics,
had to bring the crew to safety late Wednesday
morning. The Transportation Safety Board has
no early word on why the chopper went down. Other
news, two businesses in Port Moody have been
gutted in an early Wednesday morning fire. The
blaze started in a strip mall on St. John Street
just after 1 .30. A barbershop and mortgage brokerage
are badly damaged. No one was hurt. Councilor
Linda Annis wants to be the next mayor of Surrey.
Annis has announced her intention to run in the
next civic election, saying it's time to focus
on issues, not personalities. Annis is the only
Surrey First member elected to the current city
council. A mix of sun and smoke with poor air
quality for Thursday. Inland highs around 30.
Sunny on Friday. A few cloudy periods for Saturday.
For all the details on these local Vancouver
area stories, along with those links, go to VancouverRundown
.substack .com.