Air quality warning issued as wildfire smoke smothers Stratford and area

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange level air quality warning for the region on Wednesday.

Article content Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange level air quality warning for the region on Wednesday as wildfire smoke from Northwestern Ontario smothered Stratford and area and turned skies an apocalyptic shade of yellow. Conditions, which are the worst in the region since 2023, resulted in Stratford Youth Soccer and Stratford minor baseball cancelling some or all of its programming on Wednesday night. The Lions pool also closed early Wednesday afternoon for the remainder of the day, and other events in the city were also postponed.

Recommended Videos Air quality may improve Friday afternoon, officials said. Residents are encouraged to visit airqualityontario.com/aqhi/index.php for current and forecasted air quality health index (AQHI) values, information on health risks, and recommended actions to reduce exposure to air pollution and protect health. While there are no federal air quality monitoring stations in Huron or Perth, residents can check the conditions where there are federal air quality measuring stations in Grand Bend, Kitchener-Waterloo and London to see general air quality trends for the region.

As smoke levels increase, health risks increase, Huron-Perth public health officials said. Although wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, individuals aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition (like lung or heart conditions, cancer, diabetes) people who smoke, those experiencing housing insecurity, and people who work outdoors are more at risk. Ways to lower the risk of respiratory problems from poor air quality include: - Monitoring for symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pain and seeking medical attention if needed; - Staying indoors when the AQHI is 7 or greater (high risk) and reducing or stopping strenuous outdoor activities; - Checking on people in your care and those around you who may be more susceptible to air pollution; - Taking a break from the smoke at a location in your community where you can find clean, cool air, such as a library or community centre; - Drinking plenty of water; - Protecting the indoor air in your home by keeping windows and doors closed, and using air conditioning, or fans, properly sealing windows and doors with weather stripping, setting your ventilation system to recirculate when the outdoor air is poor and bring in fresh air when the outdoor air has improved, and using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles.

For those who must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce the exposure to the fine particles in the smoke, officials said. Huron-Perth public health has a limited supply of N95 respirators available to residents who are at high risk for respiratory problems when wildfire smoke results in poor air quality. Residents interested in local air quality can also check the separate Purple Air monitor in Goderich through the map at 2.purpleair.com.

Please note Purple Air does not use AQHI values.