An eerie orange haze has washed over Toronto’s skyline, leaving the city with some of the poorest air quality conditions in the world.
As heavy smoke from out-of-control northern Ontario wildfires drifts right into the region, Environment Canada has officially issued an Orange Warning for Air Quality across the city. The thick, campfire-scented plume has sent Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) soaring well into the high-risk category, giving our usual summer blue skies a distinctly post-apocalyptic glow.
While we wait for conditions to clear up, here is exactly how you can navigate the smog and protect yourself during this week’s air quality event.
Limit Your Time Outdoors
The most straightforward tip from health officials is to simply stay inside as much as possible while the plume lingers. With the AQHI hitting severe risk levels, everyone is being encouraged to reduce or completely reschedule any strenuous outdoor sports, workouts, or events. If you normally love a jog through Trinity Bellwoods or a patio afternoon, you’ll want to move those plans indoors for the next few days.
Mask Up If You Head Out
If you absolutely must commute or spend time outside, your standard cloth or surgical face coverings aren’t going to cut it against fine particulate matter. Local doctors recommend wearing a well-fitted respirator mask, such as an N95, KN95, or KF94. Because these are designed to form a completely tight seal around your nose and chin, they can successfully filter out up to 95% of the tiny smoke particles that cause lung irritation.
Seal and Recirculate Your Indoor Air
Keeping the bad air out means treating your home like a sanctuary. Ensure all of your windows and doors stay tightly shut, and close up any fireplace dampers. If you are running an air conditioning system to beat the July warmth, make sure to set it to “recirculate mode” so it filters the air already inside rather than pulling the smoky haze in from outdoors. Running an indoor HEPA air purifier in the rooms you frequent most will also do wonders for keeping your indoor breathing environment fresh.
Know Where to Find Clean Air
If you don’t have access to an air conditioner or a proper air filtration system at home, you don’t have to suffer through the heat and smog. You can escape the haze by visiting cool, climate-controlled public spaces like local shopping malls, Toronto Public Library branches, or designated facilities in the city’s Cleaner Air Spaces Network, such as the North York Civic Centre.
You can monitor the city’s real-time air quality updates and full health guidelines directly on the Environment Canada or City of Toronto websites.
