Dangerously bad, smoky air persists in Ottawa area

Smoke from wildfires in and around eastern Ontario and western Quebec has again made the air quality a very high risk to people's health Wednesday.

Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Indexwasat a very high 10+ in Ottawa, Kingston and Belleville earlier in the day.

As of 5 p.m., the air quality in eastern Ontario sat at a moderate level, and is expected to remain at at moderate or high level Wednesday night.

That is the highest level on its air quality scale and those are the highest current risk levels amongmajor Canadian cities, along with Hamilton.

While the current level is unavailable in Gatineau, it's forecast to be a very high risk Wednesday and moderate Wednesday night. Cornwalldropped to the high-risk level around noon.

A very high risk level meansthe general public should reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities, and people at risk of serious health problems from pollution including seniors, young children and pregnant people should avoid these types of activities.

High risk means at-risk people should reduce or reschedule those things, and the general public should consider it. At moderate, people at risk should consider changes butthere's no need for the general public to consider changes.

WATCH | Ottawa Public Health's guidance for bad air quality:

Consider reducing or avoiding outdoor activities during air quality warnings, Etches says

1 year ago

Duration 0:55

Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa's medical officer of health encouraged residents to modify or reduce their outdoor activity until air quality improves, while those at higher risk should avoid strenuous activity outdoors.

Environment Canada still has air quality weather alertsin effect for the entire Ottawa-Gatineau region, including smog warnings for Gatineau and areas to its north and south.

Western Quebec's poor air quality may persist for a few more days, according to its forecasts, while eastern Ontario's may improve a bit Thursday before deteriorating again Friday.

Many school boards and sports organizations have made changes and cancellations because of the health risks outside. Check ahead before going ahead with plans.

Some municipalities such asKingston are inviting people to community centres and libraries if they want to get inside and away from the smoky air.

Local fires

According to the two provinces, there are five active fires in the region: one in the Township of Greater Madawaskaabout 170 kilometres west of downtown Ottawa, two in Algonquin Park west of Petawawa, Ont., and two in the Pontiac one northwest of Gracefield, Que., the other north of Fort-Coulonge, Que.

Fire crews have flanked the Greater Madawaska fire near Centennial Lake, the township said Tuesday evening, but it doesn't consider it to be held. An evacuation order for four parts of that area has been extended to Friday.

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Kitigan Zibi Anishinbegis preparing for a possible evacuation. People evacuated from other Algonquin communities have been sent to Maniwaki, Gatineau and Ottawa.

Smoke is also coming from fires further north in what's been a worse fire season than normal.

The provincehasa fire ban in placefor Renfrew County. It and all surrounding counties except for Ottawa have an extreme fire risk, the highest level on Ontario's four-level scale.

Ottawa, which isn't in one of these Ontario fire regions,has its own ban, as doesKingstonand many other municipalities. Quebec hasrestricted accessto some forests and parks.

Counting a bit of rain Tuesday, the Ottawa international airport has only recorded about 25 millimetres of rain in the last month, along with record heat.

It follows spring flooding along parts of the Ottawa River after one of the snowiest local winters on record.