Smoke advisory issued for Iqaluit, Kinngait and Kimmirut
Smoke from Prairie wildfires reaches southern Baffin Island; expected to clear Wednesday night
Iqaluit, along with Kinngait and Kimmirut, is under an air quality advisory as of Wednesday afternoon after smoky air from the Prairies reached southern Baffin Island. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
With wildfires in the Prairies sending smoky air to southern Baffin Island, Environment Canada has issued an air quality advisory for communities there.
The smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in Iqaluit, Kinngait and Kimmirut, Environment Canada said in its air quality alert issued Wednesday afternoon.
The advisory was put in place for the three communities, despite the agency’s meteorologist previously saying it probably wouldn’t be required.
The Government of Nunavut also issued an advisory late Wednesday afternoon recommending people take precautions by keeping themselves cool and staying indoors with windows closed.
Wildfire smoke from fires around Saskatchewan and Manitoba first hit the Kivalliq Region. Most communities were put under Environment Canada air quality advisories on Monday with the thick smoke significantly reducing visibility.
Since then, the smoke has moved eastward with just one Kivalliq community, Coral Harbour, still under advisory as of late Wednesday.
The smoke should completely clear out from Nunavut communities sometime Wednesday night, according to Environment Canada’s advisory.
Such a shame! Those trees would’ve made great houses, now they are just burning up in flames.
Fires are a natural part of the life cycle of a healthy forest.