Smoke from wildfires is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in parts of Manitoba, prompting alerts from Environment Canada.
Warm and dry conditions are expected through the week, continuing the conditions that fuel wildfires, the weather agency’s forecast says. However, dangerously high winds are not expected.
On the flip side, though, the lighter winds mean the smoke will linger for a prolonged period.
An air quality warning has been issued for southeastern Manitoba, stretching from Manigotagan on the east side of Lake Winnipeg south to East Braintree, and from about 40 kilometres east of Winnipeg to the Ontario border.
It includes:
- Bissett.
- Falcon Lake and West Hawk Lake.
- Powerview-Pine Falls.
- Seven Sisters Falls.
- Nopiming Provincial Park.
- Pointe du Bois.
- Rural municipality of Alexander.
- RM of Lac Du Bonnet.
- RM of Reynolds.
- Ste. Rita.
- Hadashville.
- Rennie.
- RM of Victoria Beach.
- RM of Whitemouth, including Elma.
- Shoal Lake First Nations.
The fire in Nopiming Provincial Park, the largest of 15 wildfires currently burning in the province, remains listed as out of control at 115,100 hectares on Manitoba’s FireView map.
Environment Canada urges people to limit time outdoors and to consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor activities and events.
Mild and common symptoms from poor air quality involve eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a moderate cough. More serious symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.
When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitting respirator-type mask (N95 or equivalent) can reduce exposure to the fine particles in the smoke, the weather agency says.
A special air quality statement covers much of northern Manitoba, from the tip of Lake Winnipeg to the Nunavut border and across to the Saskatchewan border.
The only northern section not covered by the statement is the northeast corner, including Churchill, Gillam, Shamattawa and the Island Lake communities.
Environment Canada issued the same health warnings for the regions under the air quality statement as those under the warning.
