Edmonton prepares for wave of wildfire smoke
Edmonton is launching its extreme weather response as wildfire smoke is expected to cause a plunge in air quality.
City officials on Saturday morning announced steps to protect people as smoke rolls in from fires in Saskatchewan and northeast B.C. Environment Canada's air quality health index was expected to rise to a 9 out of 10 Saturday evening and persist through Monday morning.
The city's response will include opening recreation centres, pools and libraries to people needing shelter from the poor air. Free face masks and water will be available at certain facilities.
People should keep the windows of their homes and vehicles closed and consult Alberta Health Services for more information, a city news release said. It encouraged people concerned about someone outside to contact the 24/7 crisis diversion team by calling 211 and pressing 3.
'For air quality, we encourage people to take any and all actions to reduce exposure to the smoke,' the news release states. 'We encourage Edmontonians to check in on older family, friends and neighbours.'
The warnings come as Edmonton and much of North America grapple with increasingly prevalent wildfires linked to climate change and the resulting poor air quality. Last July, with wildfire season only half over, Edmonton had recorded its fourth-worst year for smoke, with 119 'smoke hours.' The city set a record in 2023 with 299 smoke hours, breaking the record of 229 hours set in 2018.
All four of Edmonton's highest smoke-hour totals have come since 2018. Measured as a decade average, the 2020s have the highest average number of smoke hours at 109 per season, despite the 2020 and 2022 seasons being entirely smoke-free.
There had been more than 100 smoke hours in the city only once between when ECCC began tracking the data in 1953 and 2017. The city has surpassed 100 smoke hours four times since 2018.
— with files from Matthew Black
jwakefield@postmedia.com
x.com/jonnywakefield
@jonnywakefield.bsky.social
Edmonton has already set its fourth-highest number of smoke hours
'The climate is changing': Edmonton ends 2023 season with record-high 299 smoke hours
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