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WOCN21 CYQX 072120
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR NEWFOUNDLAND
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
AT 6:50 P.M. NDT WEDNESDAY 7 MAY 2025.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
=NEW= ST. JOHN'S AND VICINITY
=NEW= AVALON PENINSULA NORTH.
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==DISCUSSION==
SMOKE IS CAUSING OR EXPECTED TO CAUSE POOR AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED
VISIBILITY.
SMOKE FROM A BRUSH FIRE WILL CAUSE A REDUCTION IN AIR QUALITY OVER
AREAS IN ITS VICINITY AND DOWNWIND.
LOCATIONS: ST. JOHN'S AND VICINITY AND AVALON PENINSULA NORTH.
SHORT RANGE WIND FORECAST: SOUTHWESTERLY 30 KM/H WITH GUSTS TO 50
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.
REMARKS: A COUPLE BRUSH FIRES ON THE AVALON PENINSULA ARE PRODUCING
SMOKE PLUMES DOWNWIND. REDUCED AIR QUALITY CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG THE
PATH OF THE PLUMES.
AS SMOKE LEVELS INCREASE, HEALTH RISKS INCREASE. LIMIT TIME
OUTDOORS. CONSIDER REDUCING OR RESCHEDULING OUTDOOR SPORTS,
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE MILD AND COMMON SYMPTOMS SUCH AS EYE, NOSE AND
THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHES OR A MILD COUGH. MORE SERIOUS BUT LESS
COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE WHEEZING, CHEST PAINS OR SEVERE COUGH. IF
YOU THINK YOU ARE HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL
ASSISTANCE.
PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION,
INCLUDING PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OLDER, PREGNANT PEOPLE, INFANTS AND
YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE WITH AN EXISTING ILLNESS OR CHRONIC HEALTH
CONDITION, AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS, SHOULD REDUCE OR RESCHEDULE
STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OUTDOORS AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF
EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.
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.
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 CLEANER THAT CAN FILTER FINE
PARTICLES.
IF YOU MUST SPEND 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 OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION.
ALWAYS FOLLOW GUIDANCE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
LEARN MORE AT HTTPS://WWW.CANADA.CA/WILDFIRE-SMOKE.
VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA
END/ASPC
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