Skip to content

Smoke moves in over Central Alberta, chief medical officer issues health warning

Alberta’s chief medical officer is warning people with respiratory problems to remain indoors as a pall of acrid smoke from British Columbia forest fires hangs over the province.
Wildfires 20100817
A helicopter douses flames at the Pelican Complex fire

Alberta’s chief medical officer is warning people with respiratory problems to remain indoors as a pall of acrid smoke from British Columbia forest fires hangs over the province.

Prevailing winds are blowing the smoke into much of Alberta and other weather conditions are keeping it close to the ground, turning normally blue skies a dusky grey.

“I strongly advise people with asthma, bronchitis or emphysema to remain indoors, keep their windows closed and take any preventative measures their physicians have previously recommended,” Dr. Andre Corriveau said Thursday.

“Healthy people should also avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors while the local air quality is bad. Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing should consult their physician.”

The smoke is expected to affect air quality in Alberta at least until Sunday, according to Bluesky, a smoke forecasting system used by Alberta and British Columbia.

Albertans were literally gasping as they wondered about the smoke.

“My voice is croaking. I was barely outside for 10 minutes. I can’t believe this is really coming from British Columbia,” said Lillian Scott from Waskatenau, north of Edmonton.

“This is bad. I’ve never seen it like this. When you look out, it looks just like fog.”

Firefighters are battling nearly 300 wildfires in B.C., almost all of them in the interior and the north. The most serious fires are in the Cariboo region where more than 2,000 people have been evacuated.

Alberta health officials say smoke and fine particulate matter in the air can be absorbed deep in the lungs where it can aggravate existing health conditions.

Officials say people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, angina or people who have had a previous heart attack may be most affected.