Wildfire smoke workshop teaches Albertans about dangerous impact of poor air quality

Wildfire smoke workshop aims to help Albertans protect themselves from dangerous effects of poor air quality

Wildfire season started early this year in Alberta and along with that comes the dread of smoke-filled skies.

The season traditionally runs from March 1 to Oct. 31, but Alberta Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen declared the start of the season 10 days earlier than usual last month.

The Calgary Region Airshed Zone (CRAZ) is hosting its first workshop on the health impacts of wildfire smoke on Monday in Canmore.

“Everybody, I find, gets a little more anxious when they look outside and all they see is a haze. What is it? What’s it doing to me?” said Jill Bloor, executive director of the Calgary Region Airshed Zone.

Since Alberta is experiencing warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-average precipitation in many areas of the province, it has led to a heightened wildfire risk.

“Forest fires are burning in the province already. They may not be in our area or affecting us yet, but we know that there will be the effect of forest fires in this region. How severe and what the impact will be, we don’t know. What we want to do is give people information so that they could be informed how to protect themselves,” Bloor said.

The workshop will include staff from Parks Canada explaining the prescribed burns in Banff National Park and an expert from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control talking about the health impacts of the smoke.

Bloor said there will be practical information on using microsensors for air quality and how to build your indoor air filter.