Air-quality alert returns with smoke

After a brief reprieve, drifting smoke from wildfires in British Columbia has once again settled over much of Alberta, including Calgary.

Environment Canada on Wednesday issued a special airquality statement for the city, giving the air quality a “high risk” rating of 7.

The smoke is moving in from northern Alberta and the mountain parks and is expected to remain in the region until at least Thursday night. Thursday’s air quality will rate at 9, which is considered high.

For some people, the thickening smoke will bring on coughing, throat irritation, headaches and shortness of breath. Children, seniors and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk.

Showers and cooler temperatures are forecast to move in Friday, which should dispel the smoke.

Meanwhile, the fire situation in B.C. shows no sign of improving.

Officials have said roughly 3,000 B.C. residents are under evacuation orders and thousands more are on alert as hundreds of blazes char timber and bush in all areas of the province.

B.C. declared a state of emergency last week and Premier John Horgan met with fire crews in Prince George Tuesday, but thick smoke prevented his aircraft from landing in Burns Lake.