Wind blows wildfire smoke westward

Sixty people in Central Health facilities on hold as wind change, rain provides some relief from forest fires

There are about 60 patients and residents still in healthcare facilities in Grand Fallswindsor after 130 were evacuated last weekend due to wildfires burning close to the central Newfoundland town, Central Health CEO Andrée Robichaud said Tuesday, Aug. 9, in a telephone interview.

“The provincial EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) is the one to tell us if the danger is imminent, but they’ve told us to hold, so we’re holding,” Robichaud said.

When the evacuation began on Saturday, Aug. 6, those in the intensive care unit (ICU) were flown out first. Then, buses with air conditioning and ambulances were provided for others. About 40 staff joined the patients and residents.

“I would say that a lot of staff didn’t get much sleep,” Robichaud said. “We brought a lot of people back from vacation. So, their vacation was cut short on a weekend.”

The decision to stop evacuating was made on Monday and held into Tuesday when wind patterns had changed and rain had fallen.

However, the fires are still considered out of control and have reached a combined size of just over 165 square kilometres, according to a news release from the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

SMOKE MOVING WEST

The wind has shifted and is blowing smoke in the direction of Corner Brook, says Roshini Kassie, Health Canada’s air-quality and health specialist for the Atlantic region.

“Smoke contains all these different gases and particles that are breathed into our lungs and can enter our bloodstream and affect our heart and lungs,” Kassie said Tuesday in a telephone interview. “We want to make sure that we are reducing our exposure to the smoke itself.”

While inhaling smoke can negatively affect anyone’s health, small children, pregnant women, seniors, people with existing heart or lung conditions, people with cancer or diabetes, and those who spend a lot of time outside due to work or other activities are especially at risk.

Kassie recommends checking the air quality health index to monitor where the smoke is and what it means for health.

“It’s a scale that goes from one to 10. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality,” Kassie said. “Right now in Corner Brook, the air quality is eight, so high risk. We want to make sure that people know … they need to protect themselves by staying inside and making sure that their air inside is clean.”

PROTECTION AND SYMPTOMS

If people have a ventilation system, they should make sure it is on recirculation so it’s not bringing in air from outside, Kassie said. As well, making sure windows and doors are closed, if it’s not too hot, can help.

A HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter is ideal for ventilation systems, but a portable air purifier that has

a HEPA filter can also be set up in a room to provide clean air.

Symptoms of exposure to air pollution range from mild — headaches and eye, nose and throat irritation — to more serious symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pains and severe cough.

“That’s when, of course, you have to look at making sure that you’re in a cleaner air area,” Kassie said. “If you have asthma or any lung or heart condition (make sure) that you have your meds ready.”

Prolonged exposure to smoke can also lead to death, Kassie said.

People who are unable to maintain clean air in their homes should find out which places in their community can provide clean air, such as ventilated community centres, libraries or malls.