Struggling to catch a breath

My partner and I travelled to the Okanagan Valley in late August 2026. Our trip was for 3 days, visiting Penticton and Lake Country near Kelowna to spend time with friends. Travelling through the Fraser Valley, Cache Creek, Merritt, and Kamloops, we encountered very intense wildfire smoke. The vegetation was extremely dry, and many fires had been sparked by lightning. We spent time with our friends in Penticton but had to cut our trip short because I could not get a healthy breath of air that was not laced with wildfire smoke. It is very alarming when you have to stop simple things like walking to and from your vehicle because you are having difficulty breathing.