Dangerously smoky air in some places as heat warnings persist

CBC

15 hours ago

Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for large parts of the Ottawa-Gatineau region because of wildfire smoke drifting south from northern Ontario. A lengthy heat warning persists in some of the same places.
Eastern Ontario's air quality alert covers Renfrew County south to the Kingston and Belleville areas and says poor conditions could last into Tuesday for some areas. One that's only for Monday is in place for most of the Outaouais, except for its eastern edge.
The Air Quality Health Index at 8 a.m. on Monday was 7, or high risk, for Kingston and ten, or very high risk, in Belleville. The forecast maximum in Gatineau, Que. for the day is seven, or high risk.
Further from the smoke, in downtown Ottawa the risk at 8 a.m. was labelled as five, or moderate. In Cornwall, the risk at that time was labelled as one, or low.
The heat warning began late Friday morning and now covers nearly all of eastern Ontario, with the exception of Prince Edward County and western communities such as Deep River and Bancroft.
There's also a heat warning for Gatineau and Grenville-sur-la-Rouge in western Quebec.
The alert says the hot weather is expected to ease Thursday.
Daytime highs are expected to range from 29 to 32 C and with humidity, feel like 35 to 40. Nighttime lows may not dip far below 20 C which means little relief from sweaty conditions.
Ottawa topped 32 C on Saturday, with its humidex getting into the low 40s.
Staying safe
The wildfire smoke may pose health risks, Environment Canada said, advising people in affected areas to limit time outdoors and to consider rescheduling outdoor activities.
It warned of mild symptoms including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a cough and noted people over 65, pregnant people, children, people with pre-existing health conditions and people who work outdoors are more likely to be impacted by air pollution.
Very high air quality risks such as those in Belleville Monday morning should cause people with health problems to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and the rest of people to reduce them. A high risk means at-risk people should take it easy outside and others should consoder doing the same if they start to feel unwell.
The ongoing wildfires in northern Ontario have forced several First Nations to evacuate. On Sunday, the Pikangikum First Nation had been without power for more than 24 hours and was beginning to evacuate its most vulnerable community members.
In the extreme heat, Health Canada recommends staying cool and staying hydrated, especially for vulnerable people or people with underlying health issues.
That can mean everything from drinking lots of water and planning outdoor activities for cooler times, to preparing meals that don't require ovens and keeping nearby air-conditioned spaces in mind if needed.
Watch for signs of heat exhaustion — like a headache, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat — and get to a cool place where you can drink water. Heat stroke, which includes confusion and very hot or red skin, is a medical emergency requiring a 911 call.