CALGARY - Calgary had the worst air quality in Canada Friday as wildfire smoke pushed the city’s Air Quality Health Index into the highest-risk category, leaving residents like Anthony Chim struggling to breathe.
“It makes me very dizzy,” said Chim, who has asthma. “I have nasal congestion. I’m short of breath. I coughed so much last night that I couldn’t even sleep.”
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Calgary’s Air Quality Health Index climbed above 10 — the highest risk category — as smoke from wildfires burning in British Columbia and Washington state drifted into southern Alberta.
Health officials warned the smoke isn’t just affecting people with asthma or other underlying health conditions.
“With this kind of air quality, anyone can be affected,” said Shane Paton, acting public education officer with Calgary EMS. “There’s definitely those that are at a higher risk, but everyone needs to take precautions, such as limiting your time outdoors.”
Paton urged people to watch themselves and others for symptoms, including shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain, dizziness and worsening asthma.
“If these symptoms become severe or persistent, then you would want to seek medical care,” he said.
For those who must spend extended periods outdoors, Paton said wearing a well-fitted N95 mask or equivalent respirator can reduce exposure to the fine particles found in wildfire smoke.
ECCC meteorologist Geoff Coulson said the smoke is affecting communities far beyond the fires themselves.
“It’s not only communities in B.C. and Washington being affected, but downstream in Alberta, Saskatchewan, even into parts of Manitoba,” he said.
The haze has settled over Calgary as the city’s outdoor Folk Music Festival got underway.
Festival organizers are using real-time air monitors to track changing conditions throughout the event.
“We want to make sure that the air quality is safe enough for not only the performers and staff but also the attendees,” said Mandeep Dhaliwal with the Calgary Region Airshed Zone.
Chim, who has committed to volunteering at the festival, said he will assess conditions before deciding how long he can stay.
“I would definitely try,” he said. “If anything gets too serious, I have to leave the site immediately.”
Calgary is the latest major Canadian city to be shrouded in wildfire smoke this summer. Less than two weeks ago, smoke pushed Toronto’s air quality among the worst in the world as wildfires burned across northern Ontario, prompting similar health warnings.
ECCC said smoke conditions in Calgary are expected to fluctuate throughout the day but linger into the weekend.
