Prince George is under an Environment Canada special air quality alert on Tuesday, July 23.
The weather agency reports that many parts of the province are being affected by wildfire smoke, and the situation is likely to last over the next 24 to 48 hours.
"Smoke will be highly variable across the province," the advisory states. "Concentrations will be higher near active fires and overnight."
This comes as the temperature dropped to the mid-teens Tuesday afternoon, ending a lengthy heat wave with Monday night's rain.
The forecast calls for a high of 16 C Wednesday with a chance of showers before an overnight low of 10 C. Sunshine returns later in the week with highs in the low 20s.
Environment Canada notes that the fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the primary health risk, and makes a series of recommendations to help people deal with the air quality.
People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke include seniors, pregnant women, people who smoke, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health condition.
Those who are more likely to be impacted should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. Listen to your body and if you experience symptoms, consider reducing or stopping strenuous outdoor activities.
Symptoms can include milder and more common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as serious but less common symptoms such as chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance.
Limit time outdoors. When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool. Always seek out and follow health guidance from local authorities. Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke.
Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air purifier that can filter fine particles.
When spending time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke. Take care of your mental health.
Learn more at canada.ca/wildfire-smoke.
