Wild fire smog levels spike
Calgary records worst air in seven years
BY JEN GERSON, CALGARY HERALD AUGUST 21, 2010 2:09 AM
C algary's air pollution levels soared Friday to heights not seen since 2003 as smoke from B.C.'s forest fires blanketed the city for a second day.
The eerie haze continues to hang over much of Western Canada, with a warning that the elderly, small children and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions could be in for a tough weekend.
Calgary's air-quality index sank into the very poor category Friday morning, then hovered into the poor and fair range for much of the day as B.C. fought to contain some 300 forest fires. More than 1,200 residents were forced from their homes in the central part of that province.
"We haven't experienced such conditions to this capacity since 2003 with the wildfires in Kelowna," said Environment Alberta spokesperson Ogho Ikhalo.
In Alberta, warnings were issued Thursday as 23 air-quality monitors across the province began recording high levels of fine particulate matter.
The threshold for a "very poor" air-quality rating is 100. Friday morning, a station in east Calgary measured 151.
In Edmonton, where the index reached 235 on Thursday, hospital emergency departments saw up to a 20 per cent increase in the number of respiratory complaints.
Kerry Williamson, a spokesman for Alberta Health Services, said the spike was offset by a decrease in the number of usual ailments affecting emergency wards, probably caused by fewer people taking part in outdoor activities due to the smoke.
In Calgary, where conditions were not as serious, he said local hospitals did not see a similar spike.
"There hasn't been any significant increase or anything like that. From what I understand, it's business as usual," Williamson said.
But that doesn't mean it's going to be an easy weekend for those most affected by the haze: seniors, children, people with respiratory ailments and pregnant women.
Tracey Cook, a scheduling co-ordinator for a home-care company in Calgary, has suffered from asthma for more than a decade.
She said these weather conditions make it more difficult for her to breathe.
"This is the worst I've ever seen it here," Cook said, adding she's used her asthma puffer twice as often since the smoke rolled in.
"It takes a lot more effort just to breathe. And with oxygen levels so low, you just feel tired."
The conditions have been particularly hard for the elderly.
Local nursing and retirement homes are keeping their residents inside and the windows shut, she said.
Demetria Tsakos, a receptionist at Maryland Medical Walk-In Clinic, said she had seen several more patients than usual.
"They were coughing and found it hard to breathe," she said.
Although the smoke is beginning to dissipate, Environment Canada said it's expected to stick around southern Alberta until a forecasted rain shower clears the air Sunday.
In the meantime, the smoke is heading northeast and has made it into Ontario.
"It's actually been quite bad through Alberta, and into Saskatchewan even. So far it looks like it hasn't affected Manitoba too much yet, although they have reported some smoke," said agency meteorologist Heather Rombough.
"Smoke has already spread into northwest Ontario. Some smoke is even reaching into southern Ontario, but it's not as thick."
The hazy sky was caused by a confluence of conditions; winds brought the smoke into Alberta. Stability in the upper atmosphere and instability below has trapped it close the ground.
However, the smoke has neither cancelled nor delayed flights at Calgary International Airport, where visibility fell to 4.8 kilometres, and the cloud ceiling was measured at 4,000 feet, according to a spokesman for Nav Canada.
A smoke advisory was issued for Medicine Hat on Friday. The air-quality warning is expected to remain in effect until the end of the weekend.
Most outdoor events are expected to continue as scheduled.
jgerson@theherald.canwest.com
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