Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer issues wildland fire smoke advisory for province

Just days after Alberta Health Services issued an air quality advisory for Edmonton, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer is warning that “most of the province is expected to experience some level of haze over the weekend.”

Dr. Michael Routledge said in a statement on Friday that “based on reports from Environment Canada, conditions are favourable for parts of Manitoba to be exposed to smoke and haze drifting from a number of wildland fires that are burning in the northwest United States over the next few days.”

Western Manitoba along the Saskatchewan border, as well as portions of the north, may experience the highest concentrations of smoke, Dr. Routledge said in the statement.

Smoke levels may vary due to wind direction and other weather conditions. Exposure to smoke can cause sore eyes, tears, coughing and a runny nose, among other health effects. People at higher risk include young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with heart or lung conditions (particularly asthma), and they should avoid exposure to smoke as much as possible.

Related: Alberta Health Services issues air quality advisory for Edmonton, days after similar advisories due to wildfire smoke

In areas affected by smoke from wildland fires, Manitobans are encouraged to:

• limit outdoor activity and strenuous physical activity and if breathing becomes difficult or uncomfortable, stop or reduce the activity;

• reduce exposure to smoke by staying indoors or moving to areas with cleaner air, as conditions can vary dramatically by area;

• turn off furnaces and air-conditioning units that may draw smoke indoors; and

• keep indoor air cleaner by avoiding smoking or burning other materials.

On Wednesday, Alberta Health Services issued an air quality advisory for the Edmonton area, in full, due to smoke from wildfires in Washington state. Earlier this week, AHS issued similar advisories for Alberta’s south (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat), Calgary and central (including Two Hills, Drumheller, Lloydminister and Rocky Mountain House) zones.