By Cheryl Jahn

Smoke from Williston Lake blankets city

Jun 14, 2023 | 2:54 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A heavy layer of smoke hang in the air today due to wildfires in the region. “Well, we’re seeing winds from the north, and that’s bringing smoke down from the wildfires that are burning in the Wollaston Lake area,” expains Geoff Coulson with Environment Canada. “As long as those winds stay from the north, we’re going to continue to see poor air quality conditions in the Prince George area. In fact, based on the air quality health index readings, we’re coming in with a nine right now for the Prince George area.”

But wildfire smoke can be hard on a person, according to health officials.

“When it’s really smoky like this, especially with the PM 2.5, that means those are very small, small particles that can penetrate really deep into your lungs,” explains Dr. Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer. “So that can cause a range of health effects, you know, from things like, uh, like a runny nose or scratchy throat phlegm to much more serious issues like really severe cough, difficulty breathing and asthma.”

There was a bit of rain overnight, but Geoff Coulson says it was not enough to wipeout the smoke or create conditions like those of August 17, 2018, when the city was thrown into apocalyptic conditions.

“When when the source of the smoke is this bad and when Prince George is riding the trajectory of the worse of that smoke plume, rain normally is a good thing. Rain normally can help to take some of that particulate matter out of the atmosphere, and sort of wash it out of the atmosphere. But if the smoke is very dense, then it doesn’t tend to have as much of that ameliorating effect as it normally would.”

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But he says the winds will shift and some rain on Friday may help to draw any remaining particles out of the airshed. In the meantime, Dr. Rakel Kling says outdoor activity is maybe not the wisest idea, but you your judgment. ‘I think people need to understand what their health conditions are and how they’re responding to the smoke. So if you have a chronic condition like diabetes, or respiratory issues, it may not be the best day to do any vigorous activity outside and to really listen to your body and to understand how you’re feeling in the smoke. But if you’re feeling well enough and you want to do activity outside and you’re able to breathe, okay, then that’s okay.”

She says, if warranted, wearing a mask – preferably a tighter-fitting one – may be valuable until the smoke subsides.