Poor air quality prompts City of Edmonton extreme weather response
![Edmonton wildfire smoke 2024 High Level Bridge Wildfire smoke hangs over downtown Edmonton and the High Level Bridge on Aug. 14, 2024. (Brandon Lynch / CTV News Edmonton)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/8/14/edmonton-wildfire-smoke-2024-high-level-bridge-1-7000886-1723666474138.png)
The City of Edmonton activated the extreme weather response due to poor air quality in the region.
The response is effective immediately and is scheduled to run until Saturday at 9 a.m. but could be extended if air quality issues continue.
The city activates the response after two consecutive days of an air quality of 7 or higher, and it has been at 10+ since Wednesday.
Poor air quality supports
City facilities including recreation centres, leisure centres and libraries are available for anyone needing to take a break from the smoke.
LRT and transit stations are not recommended as most of the facilities are exposed to the outdoors and don't have controlled indoor climates.
N95 masks will be distributed at various city facilities including Edmonton Public Libraries as part of the extreme weather response.
How to help
The City of Edmonton encourages people to take necessary steps to reduce their exposure to smoke by keeping windows and doors to buildings and vehicles shut during poor air quality periods.
Checking on family members, friends and neighbours who are vulnerable to poor air quality is recommended.
People who are concerned about someone suffering from the smoke can call 211, then press 3 for the 24/7 Crisis Diversion Team. The crisis team can help individuals who are in distress and provide transport to other social service agencies. If there is an emergency, call 911.
More information about the extreme weather response can be found on the City of Edmonton's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7033216.1726021317!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Kamala Harris goes on offence against Donald Trump in combative debate
Democratic U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris put Republican Donald Trump on the defensive at a combative U.S. presidential debate on Tuesday with a stream of attacks on abortion limits, his fitness for office and his myriad legal woes.
Key quotes from the Trump-Harris 2024 U.S. presidential debate
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and former U.S. president Donald Trump took the stage on Tuesday night for their first and only scheduled presidential debate before the Nov. 5 election.
FACT CHECK: A look at the false and misleading claims made during the Trump-Harris debate
In their first and perhaps only debate, former U.S. president Donald Trump and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris described the state of the country in starkly different terms. As the two traded jabs, some old false and misleading claims emerged along with some new ones.
Trump campaign falsely accuses immigrants in Ohio of abducting and eating pets
Former U.S. president Donald Trump’s campaign and his allies are amplifying false rumours that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets, another instance of the inflammatory and anti-immigrant rhetoric Trump has promoted throughout his campaigns.
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for U.S. president after debate ends
Taylor Swift, one of the music industry's biggest stars, endorsed Kamala Harris for president shortly after the debate ended on Tuesday night.
Some restaurants have increased their default tip options. Canadians think you should give this much
Despite what the default options on the payment terminal might read, most Canadians still want to tip around 15 per cent, according to a new survey.
Dave Grohl says he fathered a child outside of his marriage
The Foo Fighters frontman announced that he recently became a father again, writing in a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday that his new baby girl was born 'outside' of his marriage to his wife Jordyn Blum.
$2M home belonging to children's musician Raffi on the market
Canada’s children’s troubadour is selling his B.C. home, which is now up for grabs for $1,995,000.