Wildfire smoke in NW Ontario cancelling outdoor programs in Durham Region

The wildfires burning out of control in northwestern Ontario have turned the skies over Durham Region various shades of dystopian pastel while causing havoc with recreational programming a thousand miles from the source.

Local smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario has brought hazy skies across southern Ontario on Wednesday and Environment Canada is asking residents to limit time outdoors, and to watch for symptoms like eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.

To protect the safety of participants and staff due to the poor air quality, municipal outdoor recreation programs in Clarington, including Families in the Park and drop-in swimming at Orono Park pool, have been cancelled today.

Clarington Camps programming will remain indoors.

Staff who are required to work outdoors have been provided with personal protective equipment to help reduce exposure to airborne particulate matter associated with wildfire smoke.

Playground programs in Whitby have also been cancelled, due to Wednesday’s air quality warning.

In Ajax, recreation and culture programming has been modified for July 15, with the outdoor Ajax Memorial Pool closed at11:30 a.m. and all playground locations cancelled because of the poor air quality conditions.

All three community centres remain open and available for air respite and cooling during regular operating hours.

Oshawa, Pickering and Whitby have all implemented an immediate fire ban due to prolonged high temperatures and to support the ongoing safety of the communities. All open-air burning permits are suspended until further notice, and no new permits will be issued until the ban is lifted.

For more information about Air Quality Warnings and ways to mitigate health risks from poor air quality, visit durham.ca/airquality