Environment Canada has extended the air quality alerts for southern areas of N.W.T. Among affected communities today are Wekweeti, Whati, Behchoko and Yellowknife, the Fort Liard area, including Nahanni Butte and Sambaa K’e, the Fort Providence area, including Kakisa and Chan Lake, along with the Fort Simpson area, including Jean Marie River.
“Smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in many areas through the rest of the week,” cautions Environment Canada in an air quality alert issued today.
Smoke from wildfires continues to impact air quality at sites across the territories and across the country as smoke drifts to communities further North.
Online maps (https://firesmoke.ca/) show real-time smoke conditions drifting further North.
The Air Quality Health Index ratings show that many communities in the territories are experiencing poor air quality conditions due to wildfires.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale from 1 to 10+ which is meant to reflect air quality and its implications to health. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality. The Air Quality Health Index ratings associated with heightened health risks are indicated among communities where the monitors are available and have been placed, including Whati. Information about the risks of air pollution is available on Canada’s climate and environment webpages.
Earlier this week, the community of Whati experienced a 10+ level warning and as the day and week progressed, more air quality warnings have come into effect for the North Slave, South Slave and the Dehcho regions.
Smoke is forecasted to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in many areas through the rest of the week.
“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,” says Environment Canada.
“Smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in some areas through the rest of the week,” said reps with Environment Canada.
Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke may vary over short distances and from hour to hour.
Health Canada cautions that certain people are at greater risk of experiencing health impacts due to poor air quality including seniors, pregnant people, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, mental illness and lung or heart conditions.
Environment Canada advises that anyone can be at risk f experiencing health impacts from poor air quality.
“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status. Limit time outdoors. Reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events,” warns Environment Canada.
Environment Canada advises:
When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool.
Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke.
Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles.
If you must spend time outdoors, limit the time as much as possible.
A well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke.
Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution.
Anyone who would like more info can head to Environment Canada’s wildfire smoke pages
Data on air quality is also available on Canada’s Purple Air webpages. GNWT’s community based air monitoring project uses Purple Air monitors and continues to post data on the territorial sites which are accessible on cell phones as well as other devices.
GNWT has air quality sensors located across the territories as part of the Small Air Quality Sensors – Community Based Air Monitoring Project.
“These sensors monitor fine particulate matter in the air from things like wildfire smoke, vehicle emissions and industrial activities throughout the year. These sensors will fill a gap in data in communities that don’t have community air quality monitoring stations. They also increase air quality data in communities where air quality is already monitored. This will provide a baseline of data to compare against the future: especially important as climate change increases the intensity of events like wildfires that can affect the air quality,” said reps from the program on the project website.
The sensors project the air quality date onto to an online real time map. Project organizers say the data is meant to help communities make decisions about staying indoors or reducing activities when the air quality is deteriorating.
