There are many reasons why a haze or smoggy cloud could hang above Vancouver refusing to budge. The warm summer air, pollution, or lack of a breeze coming off the water. However the source of our hidden sunsets in recent days has been smoke from wildfires that rage on within BC.

This evening Darren Barefoot shared a link to a satellite image on Twitter:

Click on the link to view larger versions and trace the smoke along the rivers and canyons back to the source fires.

The air quality warning for Metro Vancouver is in effect until the weekend according to CBC News. More than 400 wildfires continue to burn throughout BC.

The Glenrosa wildfire is burning its way down the mountain in West Kelowna and over 11,000 people (and their pets) have already been evacuated.

Used with permission / Credit: Quantummaladjustment.com

With road closures, power outages, poor air quality, and the need for resources, residents and visitors are turning to online sources for information.

Photo credit: jnishi121 on Flickr

Here’s a quick roundup for those in the area:

Used with permission / Credit: Quantummaladjustment.com

So far Global TV has some of the best coverage with an extended news cast tonight, and Kelowna.com (@kelownadotcom) along with Castanet are constantly being updated with news and information. Blogs such as No Going Back also offer personal perspectives and images. The official Twitter tag also seems to be #KelownaFire.

Used with permission / Credit: Quantummaladjustment.com

Unfortunately this isn’t the only wildfire burning in BC, as the Terrace Mountain Fire is currently at over 800 hectares (although no structures are threatened). You can view all alerts on the Forest Service of British Columbia website.

Unsure if original source of this famous photo from 2003

This is the just one of many times in the last decade that a fire of this magnitude has hit the Kelowna area as the Okanagan Mountain Fire consumed 250 square kilometers in 2003. That year it was dubbed the “Summer of Fires” in BC. Luckily reports are currently saying that the Glenrosa fire is 40% contained.

With a low chance of precipitation in Vancouver for at least the next ten days, things are getting hot in the city so here’s link fest with a theme (who doesn’t like a good theme?)

Photo © CBC

There was a 3 alarm fire in New Westminster yesterday over at the old Woodland’s site [News1130] and apparently smoke from the blaze could cause health concerns [CBC].

That Jackass Mountain fire is pretty much contained, however wildfires continue to plague California so BC has sent down some water bombers to help with Big Sur (although that’s not as fun to say as Jackass).

Dan’s got a quick post up about (what appears to be) a historic farm along Highway 99 that went up in flames the other day.

Photo credit: Dan Lilly on Flickr

Speaking of fiery fury, Rogers decided to appease those are pining after iPhones by announcing a 6gb data plan for $30 until August 31st [Hell Froze Over - John Biehler].

Now this doesn’t have to do with fire but it stinks just as bad as when that one guy at the campsite tosses his styrofoam cup on the open flame for kicks; False Creek’s water quality is pretty much… gross [False Creek Comet].

Fighting fire with fire is pretty bold but fighting cybercrime with a Surrey-based International Cybercrime Research Centre sounds tough too, kinda [Surrey Leader]

And just because it’s very cool and covers so much ground (literally) educate yourself with Derek’s post about East, West and city lines across this region.

Update: There are now reports of a forest fire burning on Bowen Island as well.