Metro Vancouver ends poor air quality alert caused by U.S. wildfires

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Metro Vancouver residents can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and hopefully breathe in some fresh air.

After 11 unbearable days of thick haze caused by smoke from wildfires south of the border, the region ended the poor air advisory on Saturday.

The air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Regional District went into effect on Sept. 8. after smoke drifted north from Oregon and Washington.

Metro Vancouver says air quality has improved because of cleaner marine air flowing into the region.

“Although fine particulate matter concentrations have decreased significantly, pockets of local smoke might still be visible in parts of the region as smoke concentrations can vary as winds and temperatures change,” a statement from Metro Vancouver said Saturday.

Earlier this week, Vancouver was listed as having the worst air quality in the world. 

ticrawford@postmedia.com