iN NUMBERS: Where to go to escape the smoke in Okanagan, Kamloops

Not to be dramatic, but a huge chunk of the world is on fire and choked in smoke. You used to be able to hop on a plane, leave B.C. and find cleaner air. But now your options are limited.

Ranking the air quality around the world based on a moment in time isn’t the best way to frame it, according to some experts, but if you’ve got cash and vacation time you’re probably wondering where you could go for a breath of fresh air.

Everyone measures air quality a bit differently, but PM2.5 in micrograms per cubic metre of air is a standard method for measuring air quality.

Here are the numbers from IQAir.com:

• 70: Different official air quality indexes from around the world all use slightly different equations and scales to measure and interpret the air quality.
• 50: That’s the measurement for PM2.5 that is considered hazardous over a prolonged period.
• 236: That’s the highest PM2.5 measurement from monitors in West Kelowna.
• 21: That’s the highest PM2.5 measurement from monitors in Kamloops.
• 142: That’s the highest PM2.5 measurement from monitors n in Summerland.
• 154: That’s the highest PM2.5 measurement from monitors in Vernon.
• 5: Countries in Southern Europe have been dealing with wildfires since July: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
• 7.4: That’s the PM2.5 measurement on the south coast of Spain. There are lots of places in Europe with some good air quality despite the wildfires.
• 2: Cities in Australia have some of the cleanest air on the planet today, Melbourne and Sydney.
• 1.4: That’s the PM2.5 measurement in Melbourne today.
• 2.7: That’s the PM2.5 measurement at Mount Pearl in Newfoundland if you want to get out of the smoke but stay in Canada.
• 1.5: That’s the PM2.5 measurement on Vancouver Island near Gold River.