NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF ORILLIA
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Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special air quality statement as a result of wildfires burning in northeastern Ontario and Quebec.
The wildfires are producing smoke that is being carried into the Orillia area and affecting local air quality. The air quality statement is anticipated to stay in effect through this coming weekend.
The City of Orillia is reminding anyone who needs relief from the smoke to visit the Orillia Recreation Centre or the Orillia Public Library during the following hours:
- Orillia Recreation Centre (255 West St. S.), 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
- Orillia Public Library (36 Mississaga St. W.), Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The city’s recreation, youth and culture division is monitoring for impacts to outdoor city-run programs and will provide any updates through social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.
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.
Stop outdoor activities and contact your health-care provider if you or someone in your care experiences shortness of breath, wheezing (including asthma attacks), severe cough, dizziness or chest pains. Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit advises taking the following steps to protect your health when air quality is poor:
- Limit outdoor activities and strenuous physical activities on smoky days.
- Consider wearing a well-fitted respirator-type mask (e.g., NIOSH, N95 or equivalent) if you work or spend a lot of time outdoors.
- Use a portable HEPA air cleaner to filter the air in a room where you spend a lot of time.
- Reduce sources of indoor air pollution, including smoking and vaping, burning incense and candles, using air purifiers that produce ozone, and using wood stoves.
- If indoor temperatures are comfortable, close windows and doors. If you have an HVAC system in your home, use the highest-rated MERV filter for your system (ideally rated 13 or higher) and set the fan to recirculate air constantly. Limit the use of the exhaust fan when cooking to prevent outdoor air from coming indoors.
- Visit public spaces like community centres and libraries, which tend to have cleaner, cooler indoor air.
- When driving, keep windows up and set the air conditioning to the recirculate air setting to limit intake of outdoor air.
For more information and tips to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, visit smdhu.org/WildfireSmoke.
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