B.C. Wildfires: B.C. choked in smoke, as state of emergency declared for Mine Creek Fire

British Columbians are being warned to continue their efforts to avoid activity outdoors as air quality from wildfire smoke is poor across most of the province.

This comes as evacuations are underway and a local state of emergency has been declared because of the Mine Creek Fire, which has shut down the Coquihalla Highway and caused a heavy orange-and-grey haze to blanket the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver.

Metro says air-quality levels are at the worst level of 10-plus in the eastern Fraser Valley and pose a very high risk to health.

Environment and Climate Change Canada expanded its air quality alerts for most of B.C. on Friday, as the warning for Metro and the Fraser Valley continued for the third day. The federal weather agency says the warning is expected to last until there is