Wildfire smoke from the Fraser Canyon has created unusually vivid orange skies over Kamloops, British Columbia, with air quality classified as 'very high risk' by Environment Canada.Residents described the scene as apocalyptic, with some comparing it to a Stephen King novel.Smoke arrived late Tuesday afternoon via westerly winds gusting up to 43 km/h, but settled into the valley after the winds died down overnight.

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) surged from low risk (level 3) to very high risk (level 10+) by early evening, prompting warnings to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.By Wednesday morning, air quality remained at level 10, with forecasts suggesting minimal improvement for the next two days.Meteorologist Morgen Shull explained that trapped smoke will persist without significant wind shifts.Residents like Rob Woods and John Karpluk reported wearing masks and experiencing darkened skies with streetlights turning on prematurely.This event highlights ongoing challenges with wildfire smoke in the region, which has become a recurring issue due to prolonged fire seasons.