The territory’s chief public health officer issued a wildfire smoke advisory for the Northwest Territories Monday.
Dr. André Corriveau says the measure was implemented territory-wide as communities deal with varying levels of poor air quality.
More information: How smoke impacts your health
According to the advisory, exposure to smoke can result in sore eyes, tears, cough and runny nose and can make pre-existing lung and heart disease worse.
People at higher risk include young children, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone with chronic conditions like diabetes, lung or heart conditions.
Corriveau says people can reduce the risk of adverse health effects by avoiding or cutting back on strenuous outdoor activities and by spending more time indoors with windows and doors closed.
HEPA filters can also be used to create a clean air shelter in a room or section of a building.
The public health advisory warns that smoke could stick around for “several weeks” and that smoke levels can change quickly depending on wind direction and weather conditions.
Wildfires scattered throughout the Northwest Territories are to blame for elevated levels of smoke in different regions.
So far, 151 fires have burned almost 110,000 hectares of land this season.
