Latest news with #smokesafety
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Environment Canada issues special air quality statement as wildfire smoke clouds over the city
A haze is seen over Edmonton as Environment Canada issued an air quality warning on June 10, 2025 (CTV News Edmonton/Evan Klippenstein) On Tuesday morning Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement for Edmonton as wildfire smoke hung over the city. The agency said that the Air Quality Health Index had exceeded 10, signalling a high risk to some who will be outdoors today. It is recommended that seniors, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with pre-existing or chronic health conditions and people who work outdoors, reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. Symptoms may look like eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. Environment Canada says if you experience more serious symptoms to seek medical attention. It is also recommended to keep windows closed as much as possible. However, when there is an extreme heat event occurring on top of poor air quality, it is advised to prioritize keeping cool. Those who have to work outside, it is advised they wear a respirator mask such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent. There are currently 61 out-of-control wildfires burning in the province as of Tuesday morning. Environment Canada says Edmonton can expect to see poor quality throughout the evening, but that it should ease up by Wednesday morning.
CBC
10-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Smoke blankets Alberta as fight against western wildfires continues
Social Sharing Smoke from wildfires burning across Alberta has blanketed much of the province, including the Edmonton region. Edmontonians woke up to worsening air quality — the distinct smell of burning wood and morning skies cloaked in an orange haze. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for the city and surrounding regions, while air quality warnings remain in effect for a swath of communities across the northern portion of the province. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke could fluctuate from hour to hour and as smoke levels increase, so do the health risks, Environment Canada cautioned. As of Tuesday morning, the Air Quality Health Index for the Edmonton region was rated at 10+, meaning that residents are at a very high risk from the current levels of air pollution. Environment Canada is urging people to limit their time outside and to monitor themselves for symptoms of prolonged exposure, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder said that from B.C. to Quebec, Canadians could likely see and smell wildfire smoke. "We're seeing smoke present almost everywhere," Flisfeder said. "When we look at satellite imagery, we can see the presence of smoke stemming from these wildfires making their way across the Atlantic toward the U.K. and parts of Europe." He said the haze isn't dangerous when it remains in the Earth's upper atmosphere but when it descends, it becomes a health risk. Flisfeder added that winds are expected to shift in the coming days. A scorching season Smoke is drifting in from the northwest from fires burning in northern Alberta as well as northeastern B.C. Western Canada has faced a volatile start to wildfire season with explosive fire conditions and expanding evacuation orders straining emergency resources across the west. Between 10,000 and 15,000 remain under evacuation in Saskatchewan and another 21,000 have been forced from their homes in Manitoba, one of the largest evacuations in the province's history. Close to 3,000 Albertans remain on evacuation orders. On the front lines of the wildfire fight 6 hours ago Duration 2:45 A helicopter pilot, heavy machinery operator and railway worker talk about what they're doing on the front lines of the battle against wildfires in Manitoba. As of Tuesday morning, 65 wildfires were raging across the province, 24 of which are burning out of control. Seven of the fires are considered an imminent threat to critical infrastructure or communities. Among them is a blaze along the Alberta-B.C. border, which has grown relentlessly for days, triggering a string of evacuation orders. The blaze, known as the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, continues to burn out of control since crossing the border into Alberta. The fire flared dangerously over the weekend, forcing an evacuation of Kelly Lake in northeast B.C., and destroying several structures within the remote community. Aggressive fire behaviour Sunday afternoon prompted the County of Grande Prairie to issue an expanded evacuation order and alert. The fire grew significantly overnight Sunday, in what wildfire officials described as a stern warning about the continued risk to surrounding communities. The fire grew rapidly Monday and now covers 21,679 hectares. Drier fuels and poor overnight humidity recovery are expected to fuel the fire, especially in exposed areas and spruce stands. The wildfire continues to progress toward containment lines along the north side, officials said. Red Earth East Complex A complex of fires, known as the Red Earth East Complex, continues to threaten a cluster of remote northern Alberta communities. Residents of Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation remain under evacuation, while around 100 residents of nearby Chipewyan Lake are assessing their losses after nearly half of the structures in the community burned. A wall of flames moved in on the community two weeks ago, temporarily trapping a firefighting crew on scene overnight as homes along with the community's health centre, church and water treatment plant were incinerated by the flames. The Sousa Creek fire forced residents of Chateh to flee last week. It's unclear when it will be safe to return to the town about 850 kilometres north of Edmonton. The fire remains five kilometres south of of Chateh and 72 kilometres west of the Town of High Level. It has now consumed more than 41,200 hectares of forest. Crews battling the fire have faced high winds and parched conditions which have threatened to push the fire toward the community. Firefighters and heavy equipment crews have been working to contain the fire along the north and northeastern perimeter near Sousa Creek. Shifting winds and soft wet soil deep in the bush has hampered those efforts, officials said. A smattering of rain showers were expected to fall on northern Alberta Monday but after weeks of hot, dry weather, conditions remain parched. Officials caution that the fire danger remains extreme, meaning the risk of fast-growing, volatile fires across the Alberta landscape remains dangerously high.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Air quality alert issued for all of Minnesota due to wildfire smoke from Canada
The Brief The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota due to wildfire smoke from Canada. The alert takes effect at 11 p.m. Saturday and goes until 11 p.m. on Sunday. The air quality index is in the orange category, which means the air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups. (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota due to the continuing wildfires in Canada. What they're saying MPCA issued an air quality alert as heavy surface wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to follow a cold front into Minnesota, affecting the whole state. The alert will be in place from 11 p.m. Saturday until 11 p.m. Sunday. MPCA says the smoke is expected to move across the state from west to east late Saturday night, then clear out west to east by Sunday afternoon or evening. The air quality index is expected to reach the orange category, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. What to expect Minnesotans can expect to see a hazy sky, and smell smoke in the air, MPCA says. For sensitive groups, like people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant people, being outside during the alert could impact their health. What you can do MPCA says to reduce activities that contribute to poor air quality, like fires, reducing vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. To keep up to date on current air quality conditions, click here. The Source A press release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire smoke expected to linger as air quality could worsen across Simcoe County
A special air quality statement is in effect for several regions across Simcoe County as wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality and visibility throughout Central Ontario. According to Environment Canada, smoke is expected to linger with air quality to worsen as levels increase. Residents are advised by the national weather agency to limit outdoor activities and if indoors, keep windows closed to prevent smoke from coming in. With the weekend fast-approaching, Environment Canada says people should consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events. Mild and common symptoms linked to poor air quality include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. People more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution include people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and members who work outdoors.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Toronto's air quality to be impacted by wildfire smoke today, Environment Canada warns
Your Morning meteorologist Winston Sih says rain will bring some relief to the Prairies, while hazy skies remains in other parts of the country. Environment Canada is warning Toronto residents to limit their time outdoors today due to poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke. A special air quality statement has been issued for the GTA and much of southern Ontario as wildfire smoke drifts into the region. On Friday, Toronto's air quality index is expected to hit a maximum of 7 out of 10, which is classified as 'high risk,' Environment Canada says. The national weather agency warns that smoke levels are expected to rise in the area this morning and into this afternoon. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase,' the advisory reads. 'Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.' As of 10 a.m. on Friday, Toronto's air quality was ranked fifth worst in the world, according to data from Swiss air quality tracker IQAir. The only other Canadian city with worse air quality than Toronto on Friday was Montreal, which was ranked second worst among all cities globally. The smoke may cause mild irritation to your eyes, nose, and throat, and may lead to headaches or a mild cough, Environment Canada said. 'More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough,' the advisory continued. 'People more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution, including people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and people who work outdoors, should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.' Toronto will see a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 24 C today, feeling closer to 27 with humidity. Saturday will bring more sunshine and a high of 25 C and a slightly cooler high of 22 C is in the forecast for Sunday.
