More fire bans issued as smoke from Ontario, Quebec wildfires lingers in Toronto
More fire bans have been put into effect as wildfires continue to burn in Quebec and northern Ontario.
A large portion of the province has been placed under a Regional Fire Zone, meaning that open flames are not permitted due to the high risk of forest fires. On Tuesday, a local fire ban for Aurora and Newmarket was declared.
Officials noted the ban will be issued across York Region by local fiire chiefs.
"Due to current weather patterns and no significant rain in the foreseeable future, we need to take steps to avoid large fires," Ian Laing, Central York Fire Services Fire Chief and the York Region Fire Coordinator, said in a statemend issued Tuesday night.
"Every fire decreases our air quality. By banning recreational fires we're doing what we can to protect those in our community and limit contributing to the poor air quality."
An air quality advisory by Environment Canada remains in effect on Tuesday for most of the Greater Toronto Area due to the “high levels” of smoke pollution.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. Continue to take actions to protect your health and reduce exposure to smoke,” Environment Canada said in Tuesday’s updated advisory.
According to the federal weather agency’s Air Quality Health Index, the risk to those in the city is currently moderate at a level 4 and will climb higher to level 5 later tonight.
But the smoky air will likely continue until at least the end of the week.
Ontario's largest school board issued a statement on Tuesday saying that strenuous outdoor events planned for Wednesday and Thursday have been rescheduled or moved indoors.
"While outdoor recesses may continue – students are encouraged to avoid strenuous activity and schools will, if supervision levels allow, make every attempt to accommodate those who wish to stay inside or are experiencing symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation," officials witih the Toronto District School Board said.
Toronto's Catholic District School Board says they have recommended that students with respiratory conditions remain indoors during recess and that HEPA purifiers could be helpful in reducing the smell of smoke in the classroom.
Canada’s Wildfire Smoke Prediction System (FireWork) appears to show thicker volumes of smoke blowing southeast towards the city and coming to a head above the GTA on Thursday evening.
Those in the area are advised to limit outdoor activities and strenuous activities as much as possible as the city remains under the advisory.
“If you have difficulty breathing, reduce your activities or stop altogether,” the agency said.
Images from residents across southwestern Ontario posted to social media show the sun all but blotted out by the intense smoke in the area.
As of Tuesday morning, there are 160 forest fires burning in Quebec and at least 47 in northern Ontario.
On Monday, Canada's emergency preparedness minister said the wildfires burning across the country, which also include those in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, appear to be some of the most severe ever seen in the country.
Bill Blair went on to say that the current forecast for the next few months points to the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity this year.
The minister responsible for natural resources in Ontario said a little spark can turn into a serious blaze.
"The preparation that we put into wildland fire season is immense, and the investments that we have made to ensure that we can properly attack these fires is considerable," Graydon Smith said Tuesday.
"At this time, we don't have communities under threat and we're working to make sure that that doesn't happen."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.