Wildfire smoke measured at dangerous levels in city

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This article was published 17/05/2023 (1181 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Potentially harmful smoke has been blowing through Winnipeg.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a special air-quality statement Tuesday for a large swath of southern Manitoba and on Wednesday it was updated to include all of southern Manitoba, and as far north to Grand Rapids and Poplar River First Nation.

Meteorologist Jesse Wagar said that by mid-afternoon Wednesday the weather service’s air monitor, located just west of downtown, was showing a reading of between 15 to 25 micrograms per cubic metre of air, but non-agency monitors in a couple of other areas of the city had shown readings as high as 75.

Levels up to 50 are considered good, but anything higher can cause health problems.

“It has been really bad out there,” Wagar said. “It will take quite a push to dissipate it.”

Wagar said the rain parts of Winnipeg received early in the afternoon could have done more harm than good.

“Sometimes, all it does is bring down even more smoke from high in the atmosphere,” she said.

The smoke blowing through Winnipeg is from forest fires in northern Saskatchewan. Other blazes in the northern Alberta area are adding to the problem across the province.

Wagar said conditions are expected to get better overnight Thursday as the smoke continues south to the United States.

Environment Canada has been recommending that while the wildfire smoke is around, people should close their windows, set their air conditioners to recirculate air and, if the smoke is a problem in a residence, consider going to places such as a mall, community centre or library.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca