Wildfire smoke triggers high-risk air quality warning for Fort Erie

Environment Canada issued an orange air quality warning for Fort Erie and southern Niagara Wednesday morning as smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario drives pollution to levels the agency says put everyone’s health at risk.

The warning, issued at 9:35 a.m. with a high impact rating, covers the Niagara Falls, Welland and southern Niagara region. Air quality was expected to worsen through the day and poor conditions may persist into Friday.

Air Quality Ontario’s health index put Niagara at a level 9 out of 10 at 9 a.m., among the worst readings in the province. Areas near Windsor registered above 10.

IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company that publishes a worldwide pollution map, ranked the Golden Horseshoe as having the worst air quality in the world as of Wednesday morning. Fine particle levels measured 2.6 times World Health Organization guidelines.

Environment Canada says heavy smoke threatens everyone regardless of age or health status. Residents should limit time outdoors and reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events.

Smoke exposure can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. Wheezing, chest pains or a severe cough are less common and more serious. Anyone who believes they are having a medical emergency should seek help immediately.

People over 65, pregnant women, infants and young children, people with chronic health conditions and outdoor workers face the greatest risk. The agency advises them to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and to seek medical attention if symptoms appear.

The smoke arrives on top of a heat warning that has gripped the region since Monday. Environment Canada downgraded that warning to yellow Wednesday, with highs of 29 to 33 C, humidex values of 38 to 42 and possible extension into Thursday for some areas. The agency notes the smoke itself may limit daytime heating and keep temperatures below forecast.

Environment Canada advises keeping windows and doors closed against the smoke, but says people should prioritize keeping cool when extreme heat and poor air quality strike together.

Residents who must go outside can reduce their exposure with a well-fitting NIOSH-certified N95 respirator, though the agency cautions some health risk remains. Indoors, a high-quality furnace filter or a certified portable air cleaner can remove fine particles.

Skies were smoky in Fort Erie at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, with visibility down to five kilometres. The forecast called for widespread smoke through Thursday, and a high of 30 C today with a humidex of 39, and 31 C Thursday.

Mike Flannigan, a professor of wildland fire at Thompson Rivers University, told The Canadian Press in April that he now expects most years to be bad fire years nationally as human-caused climate change fuels longer, more intense seasons.

The current wildfire season had already burned 1.4 million hectares across more than 3,100 fires as of early July, according to a federal update from Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski.

The smoke is forecast to begin clearing Friday, when Fort Erie has a chance of showers and a high of 27 C.

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