‘Very high risk’: Air quality warning issued for Halton Region — overnight levels to top out at 10-plus, will remain at 9 on Thursday

Halton Region warns of "very high levels of air pollution due to smoke from forest fires."

Halton Region is reminding residents that an orange-level air quality warning has been issued by Environment Canada and the Province of Ontario for Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills. “Very high levels of air pollution due to smoke from forest fires are expected today and possibly into Friday,” stated the July 15 Halton news release. The province’s Air Quality Health Index readings, issued at 5 p.m. July 15 had Burlington at 6, Oakville at 7, and Milton at 10.

All three communities are forecast to top out at 10-plus — the top end of the scale — overnight while dropping only slightly to 9 for Thursday. Both 9 and 10-plus are considered “very high risk.” Halton Hills is not included in the index.

Tips on staying healthy during a poor air quality warning can be found on the Halton Region news release. The heat warning for Halton Region, in place since Sunday, ended today, in part because the smoke haze helped cool temperatures down, according to Environment Canada.