WOCN20 CWTO 160120
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR ONTARIO
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
AT 9:20 P.M. EDT THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 2024.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
      SANDY LAKE - PIKANGIKUM
      SACHIGO LAKE - BEARSKIN LAKE.

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==DISCUSSION==

SMOKE IS CAUSING OR EXPECTED TO CAUSE POOR AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED 
VISIBILITY.

HIGH LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION HAVE DEVELOPED DUE TO SMOKE FROM FOREST 
FIRES. SMOKE PLUMES ARE MOVING OVER NORTHERN ONTARIO FROM A 
COMBINATION OF FOREST FIRES IN THE NORTHERN PRAIRIES AND NORTHERN 
ONTARIO. AIR QUALITY MAY DETERIORATE IF THE SMOKE DESCENDS TO GROUND 
LEVEL. 

HIGHER LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION MAY PERSIST IN SOME AREAS TONIGHT DUE 
TO NEARBY WILDFIRES. A MORE SIGNIFICANT PLUME OF FOREST FIRE SMOKE 
IS EXPECTED TO PUSH INTO THE REGION ON FRIDAY FROM MANITOBA.

THE FINE PARTICLES IN WILDFIRE SMOKE POSE THE MAIN HEALTH RISK. AS 
SMOKE LEVELS INCREASE, HEALTH RISKS INCREASE. 

PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY WILDFIRE SMOKE INCLUDE SENIORS, 
PREGNANT WOMEN AND PREGNANT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO SMOKE, INFANTS AND 
YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN 
STRENUOUS OUTDOOR EXERCISE AND PEOPLE WITH AN EXISTING ILLNESS OR 
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITION. THOSE WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED 
SHOULD REDUCE OR RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS OR SEEK 
MEDICAL ATTENTION IF EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS. 

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND IF YOU EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS, CONSIDER 
REDUCING OR STOPPING STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SYMPTOMS CAN 
INCLUDE MILDER AND MORE COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS EYE, NOSE AND THROAT 
IRRITATION, AS WELL AS SERIOUS BUT LESS COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS 
CHEST PAINS OR SEVERE COUGH. IF YOU THINK YOU ARE HAVING A MEDICAL 
EMERGENCY, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. 

LIMIT TIME OUTDOORS. WHEN INDOORS, KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED AS 
MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THERE IS AN EXTREME HEAT EVENT OCCURRING WITH 
POOR AIR QUALITY, PRIORITIZE KEEPING COOL. ALWAYS SEEK OUT AND 
FOLLOW HEALTH GUIDANCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES. 

PROTECT YOUR INDOOR AIR FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE. ACTIONS CAN INCLUDE 
USING A CLEAN, GOOD QUALITY AIR FILTER IN YOUR VENTILATION SYSTEM 
AND/OR A CERTIFIED PORTABLE AIR PURIFIER THAT CAN FILTER FINE 
PARTICLES. 

WHEN SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS, A WELL-CONSTRUCTED, WELL-FITTING AND 
PROPERLY WORN RESPIRATOR TYPE MASK (SUCH AS A NIOSH-CERTIFIED N95 OR 
EQUIVALENT RESPIRATOR) CAN REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE FINE 
PARTICLES IN THE SMOKE. EVEN THOUGH EXPOSURE MAY BE REDUCED, THERE 
CAN STILL BE RISKS TO HEALTH. 

CHECK IN ON OTHERS WHO ARE IN YOUR CARE OR LIVE NEARBY WHO MAY BE 
MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY WILDFIRE SMOKE. 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. 

LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.CANADA.CA/WILDFIRE-SMOKE. 

VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR 
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS 
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES. 

PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY 
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.

HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA

END/OSPC