KAMLOOPS – Have you ever seen it this bad?

Smoke has blanketed the city of Kamloops on and off for weeks now, but it appears to have deteriorated to its worst point today, Aug. 3.

The provincial government is currently putting the city's air quality index at 49, or "very high risk". The next highest air quality health index rating in the province is Williams Lake, at 19.

Parks and public spaces in Kamloops are nearly deserted and visibility in the city has gotten worse through the day.

Kamloops resident Hannelore Eckerman has lived in the city since 1968 and says she has never seen it like this.

"It scratches your throat, your eyes tear," she says. "You can taste it."

iN PHOTOS: Deteriorating air quality in Kamloops | iNFOnews.ca — Credit: ENVIRONMENT CANADA

She took her grandchildren to play in the river, but says they likely won't last long at the park due to the smoke.

"I almost feel like we shouldn't be out here, like we should be inside an air conditioned home," Eckerman says.

Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau says there aren't historical statistics to compare the air quality to, so it's not known if this is the worst it's ever been in Kamloops.

The health index also wasn't designed for wildfire smoke, it was designed for pollutants and the health risks they pose.

"There’s no limit to the top end of the scale, anything above 10 is extreme," she says. "Once you’re above 10, it’s very bad."

Although Environment Canada's forecast expects smoke to clear in Kamloops by the weekend, Charbonneau says it could hang around longer if weather systems don't change.

"Unfortunately we don’t really see that changing too much as we look at the beginning of August," Charbonneau says.

Elderly people and children especially are advised to stay indoors and avoid strenuous activities. People who need to be outside are advised to use N95 masks to help filter out particles.

– With files from Mike McDonald

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