Smog detected in the Townships Tuesday

The Townships briefly experienced poor air quality June 6, as wildfires raged throughout Quebec, said Éric Lampron-goulet, medical advisor to the public health direction of the CIUSSS de l’estrie-chus. Though fires continue to burn in the province, air quality in the region has improved, with indicators improving in the night between June 6 and 7.

The period of smog began around 11 a.m., due to forest fire smoke, Lamprongoulet said. The public health authority didn’t detect any uptick in calls to Info-santé or visits to ERS, but “there really needs to be a strong increase to detect it,” he said. “We know that smog causes health problems, but it wasn’t necessary a large proportion affected.”

During periods of smog, Lamprongoulet said residents should remain inside, close their windows and refrain from intense physical activity. Smog can

cause symptoms “resembling allergies,” he said, such as an itchy throat or tingling eyes. It can also lead to more serious impacts on the heart and lungs. Those with heart or lung conditions are most vulnerable and should be especially vigilant, he said.

Surgical masks worn to protect against COVID-19 won’t offer protection from smog, Lamprongoulet said. “Only N95s have a possibility of helping.” Still, public health authorities aren’t recommending people wear N95s as their effect “hasn’t been studied.” In some situations, such as working outside in smog with a heart or lung condition, wearing an N95 “could be considered,” he added.

Forecasts don’t point to smog over the next few days, but Lamprongoulet suggested people keep an eye on weather apps for air quality alerts. In a situation of intense smog, he said public health representatives might go door to door advising residents on the precautions to take. In the most extreme situations, the CHUS could recommend evacuations.

Sherbrooke fire service stands by Sherbrooke’s fire department volunteered to help wildfire fighting efforts, said fire service director Stéphane Simoneau. Firefighters remain on deck for now.

The Association des chefs en sécurité incendie du Québec, the association of fire departments across the province, asked the Sherbrooke fire protection service June 2 whether it could volunteer assistance, Simoneau said. Though the fire department said yes, “we still haven’t been called to help.”

Urban and forest firefighting are two different ballgames, Simoneau said. “A forest firefighter might parachute into a place and stay alone for a week,” he said. “They don’t have access to water or fire hydrants or a truck.”

Sherbrooke’s service has urban firefighters, who could respond to the wildfires as they enter communities. “When we have people come to help, we need to house and feed them,” Simoneau said. As a result, “priority was given to the closest cities.”

The hundred French firefighters coming to join the fight “are forest firefighters,” Simoneau said. Individual firefighters have the option to volunteer and train to join the forest side of the wildfire fight, he added.

Should the provincial association call on Sherbrooke to help, “we’ll just need 48 hours,” he said.