The provincial government and Island Health have issued an air quality advisory for Duncan residents.

High concentrations of fine particulates in the air could cause problems for people with chronic underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, respiratory disease and heart disease, warns the Ministry of Environment.

Infants, the elderly and people with diabetes, lung or heart disease are particularly at risk when exposed to the conditions.

Those at risk should stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed and reduce indoor sources of air pollution like smoking, vacuuming and use of wood-burning stoves.

The advisory is expected to stay in place until weather conditions change.

The ministry has also issued open burning restrictions for the Cowichan Valley, within 15 kilometres of Duncan City Hall, for three days.

That means no one is allowed spark any new fires and no material may added to existing fires.

For more information, go to BC Air Quality’s website here.