CALGARY — After an advisory was issued for wildfire smoke causing poor air quality and reduced visibility, Albertans are beginning to experiencing adverse effects, and it can feel like the smoke is coming from everywhere.
“B.C. is on fire, Saskatchewan is on fire, Manitoba, northwestern Ontario have lots of fire,” said Mike Flannigan, Professor of Wildland Fire at the University of Alberta.
“(In Alberta) we have 13 fires out of control, so we have got a few more active fires, which is a concern. It’s hot, dry, and windy in parts of Alberta, then it looks like there is some relief with rain and showers especially in the north, so we will get some help from mother nature and the weather.”
Doctors warn poor air quality can affect your health in different ways, from minor issues such as a scratchy throat, to more serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing or heart problems.
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“People who have any cardiac problems, any congestive heart failure, any heart or respiratory chronic issues, or any eye issues, should be very careful,” said Dr. Sarah Mabood, a family physician in Calgary.
“They should be staying home indoors, avoiding outdoor exposure and any activity that will be more exertional than their capacity.”
And this smoky haze around Calgary and Alberta is likely here to stay all summer and is certain to affect many Albertans.
“It’s likely we are going to see smoke episodes and possibly some heavy smoke,” said Flannigan.
“Hopefully not as bad as what we saw in 2017 and 2018 where at times, Edmonton had the worst air quality on the planet. It’s something to be concerned about especially if you have respiratory issues and other health concerns. Apparently aged smoke, old smoke is worse for your health than new smoke.”
