NESKANTAGA — Environment Canada says air quality continues to deteriorate across much of the far north and alerts are also in place for many areas east of Thunder Bay.
Wildfire smoke from numerous forest fires in Northwestern Ontario and on the Prairies caused the weather office to issue new air quality warnings and special statements Friday morning.
The more serious warnings extend across much of the far north, from just north of Red Lake to south of Fort Severn, and from the Manitoba border east past Webequie, Neskantaga and Marten Falls.
The special air quality statement is in effect from Armstrong, north of Thunder Bay, and running east just inland from the North Shore, including communities like Greenstone, Manitouwadge, Hornepayne and White River.
“We're seeing heavy concentrations of particulate matter stemming from all the wildfire activity that's still ongoing,” said Steven Flisfeder, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
“So, (a) pretty far expanding area that's currently under an air quality warning where the concentrations are much higher from the smoke.”
Areas affected by the air quality statement are “still seeing very high concentrations of smoke near the surface, reducing air quality,” he said.
“Not as significantly as in the far north, but still a big area of concern in terms of air quality and, general health as a result.”
As for how the smoke will behave heading into the weekend, Flisfeder said, currently, it’s hard to forecast, given what predictive modelling is showing.
“It could be a situation where these statements, in particular, they may be dropped as we see concentrations get reduced over time, but you can also expect it to be reissued as things evolve over the weekend.”
Flisfeder said the weather office uses data that shows expected changes to weather information, fire behaviour and air pollution along with information from real-time data stations and compares them. “If those are not in alignment with each other, that's when we have less confidence in the model output.”
“The model guidance is doing a pretty poor job of capturing how bad things are currently, so we don't have a lot of confidence in how much it will clear up, unfortunately,” he added.
Environment Canada said people, including those 65 and older, as well as infants and children, people who are pregnant, those who have a chronic health condition and those who work outdoors should reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities and, if symptoms develop, seek medical attention.
People should also keep windows and doors closed as much as possible and take other precautions —like using air filters in ventilation systems and/or portable air cleaners — to mitigate compromising indoor air quality.
“It's really important for people to stay as up to date with their forecasts and alerts just so that they have the best information possible,” Flisfeder said.