Category: air quality alert

Death of BC Boy Linked to Wildfire Smoke, Health Officials Warn

The B.C. Coroners Service issued a public safety alert on July 17 about wildfire smoke after confirming a nine-year-old boy died after his medical condition was exacerbated by the deterioration in air quality caused by the smoke. The boy, Carter Vigh, died last week in hospital. He’d suffered from asthma his whole life and always…


Cold Front to Bring Relief in Central Canada, but Heat Wave Continues on Coasts

A cold front passing through Ontario is expected to offer relief today after a multi-day heat wave, but the hot and humid weather is forecasted to linger over Quebec through the weekend. Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder says the cold front is expected to cause a return to near normal temperatures in the coming days….


Air Quality Alerts: States Issue Advisories as North American Cities Top Worst Air Index

Multiple American states, and the nation’s capital, have issued alerts due to poor air quality as a consequence of Canada’s raging wildfires—with some states warning “sensitive populations” to avoid outdoor activity. On June 28, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality advisory for all counties in the eastern half of the state…


Special Air Quality Statements in Effect Due to Wildfire Smoke Over Parts of Ontario

Wildfire smoke is again hanging over vast areas of Ontario, with Environment Canada warning that the high levels of air pollution may affect vulnerable people. The weather agency has issued special air quality statements for southern and eastern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area, London, Windsor and Ottawa due to smoke from forest fires in…


Quebec Wildfire Smoke Causes Widespread Smog Warnings, Grounds Some Water Bombers

Smoke continued to billow from wildfires burning across northern Quebec on Monday, grounding water bombers and causing widespread smog warnings farther south. There were 114 fires burning across the province as of Monday morning, including  29 considered out of control, according to a spokesman for the province’s forest fire prevention agency. Nicolas Vigneault said the…


Smog Warnings in Effect as Wildfire Smoke Blankets Many Parts of Quebec

Thick, smoky air blanketed many parts of Quebec on Sunday as more than 110 wildfires raging in the northern parts of the province set more communities on high alert for new evacuation orders. Environment Canada issued smog warnings for wide swaths of the north, south and west of the province, including Montreal, Québec, Laval, Longueuil…


Rising Number of Wildfires Trigger Poor Air Quality Warnings in Ontario, Quebec

The number of forest fires burning across Canada crept higher over the last week and more dangerous air quality warnings were issued in parts of Ontario and Quebec Sunday. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, known as CIFFC, reported 465 active fires burning across the country, including 240 that are out of control. Almost one-quarter…


Wildfire Smoke Continues to Impact Millions in Canada’s Major Cities

Poor air quality due to wildfires may persist into the weekend for some of Canada’s most populous cities, Environment Canada says. Toronto is expected to continue experiencing hazy skies and poor air quality over the next 72 hours as smoke from wildfires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario continues to compromise the air quality in southwestern…


Republican Infighting Halts Measures to Limit Gas Stove Ban

Conservatives on Capitol Hill say they’ve lost trust in their party’s leadership, and the group is making their discontent heard. We hear from one of them about a potential new set of demands for Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Millions of Americans are now under air quality alerts. How are wildfires in Canada impacting U.S. cities? A…