On Tuesday, March 31st, BC Lung Foundation visited both Watch Lake-North Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department and 70 Mile House Volunteer Fire Department to install outdoor air quality monitors as a part of Carter’s Project.
In the summer of 2023, in 100 Mile House, 9-year-old Carter Vigh, sadly passed away due to an asthma attack exacerbated by poor air quality. The nearest air quality monitoring station was 100km away; the skies were clear, but the air over 100 Mile was, invisibly, very poor. Local, real-time air quality monitoring would likely have saved his life. Carter’s Project is an initiative in honour of Carter Vigh, which funds the free distribution of air quality monitors throughout British Columbia. Launched in 2024, BC Lung has now installed over 20 outdoor air quality monitors in rural communities across the province.
Watch Lake-North Green Lake Volunteer Fire Department initially reached out to BC Lung in the fall of 2025, expressing interest in Carter’s Project and having a monitor installed at their fire hall. They also felt strongly about encouraging other fire departments to get involved. “In rural communities, the volunteer fire department is often the hub of the community and plays a central role in keeping people and property safe. We believe our roles extend beyond this and the installation of an air quality monitor reflects our values to help keep both residents and visitors safe”, said Laura Dewar, Watch Lake – North Green Lake VFD Director. “Now that we have our own air quality monitor installed at our fire hall, residents and visitors alike will be able to check local air quality conditions before venturing outside”.
On Tuesday, the department invited the community to the fire hall to be a part of the installation and learn more about the importance of air quality monitoring. Carter’s parents, Amber and James Vigh both participated in the installations alongside BC Lung. “Every time we go to a new location to do an install; it’s not only great to meet the people that are helping us bring Carter’s Project to life, but amazing to watch those new air quality monitors go live on the air quality maps to help fill in those gaps”, said Amber.
The two new air quality monitors are now online and actively providing real-time air quality information to anyone who wishes to access it. This can be checked at purpleair.com or aqmap.ca.
“It’s been incredible to see BC fire departments really embrace Carter’s Project and take important steps to ensure their communities have accurate air quality info. BC Lung is excited to expand the project to reach even more rural areas that are high-risk for wildfire smoke events and need better air quality monitoring”, says Christopher Lam, President & CEO at BC Lung Foundation. So far in 2026, BC Lung has installed air quality monitors at Pender Island Fire, Watch Lake-North Green Lake Fire, and 70 Mile Fire. In the coming weeks, they will be bringing air quality monitors to fire departments in Hope, Chilliwack, Oliver, and Keremeos.
To learn more about Carter’s Project and to apply to have an air quality monitor installed in your community, visit bclung.ca/cartersproject.
