Air quality statement remains in Metro Van

A special air quality statement remains in place for parts of Metro Vancouver due to the Burnaby Refinery.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says the regional district is closely monitoring the situation, after the facility “conducted an operation” last Thursday “that may result in odour, smoke, and flaring.”

The advisory covers the northwest and northeast of Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Burnaby, the Tri-Cities, the North Shore, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge.

Citing health authorities, ECCC says people should move inside if they are outside and smell an odour in their area. People are told to close windows, doors, and air intakes to reduce exposure to contaminants that are behind the smell.

People with underlying medical conditions like heart disease, asthma, or other lung disease, may want to reduce outdoor physical activity until the advisory ends, ECCC adds.

On Jan. 24, Parkland Corp. announced it was beginning “a controlled and necessary operational procedure as the first step in the safe restart of the refinery” the next day. That, the company said, could result in increased odour, flaring, and visible smoke in the days that followed.

On Sunday, the first stage of the restart wrapped up. In an update that day, Parkland said it was continuing to work with regulators, stakeholders, and community partners as it progressed to the next stage of the process.

The Calgary-based fuel distributor and marketer was forced to temporarily shut down processing operations at its Burnaby facility, though the refinery’s blending, shipping, terminal, and rack activities would continue, Parkland Corp. said last week.

The facility is the same one that prompted a public safety advisory earlier this month, because of a noxious smell that blanketed the region caused by a fire at the refinery.

“A small amount of fire from one location moved to another location that was maybe a little unsuitable within a unit,” Burnaby Fire Chief Chris Bowcock said Sunday, Jan. 21.

“An emergency stop was initiated and any existing product was sent to the flare, which would be noticeable as the flare discharged a little larger.”