B.C. Forest Fires Give Calgary Worst Air Quality In Seven Years

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Calgary's air pollution levels soared Friday to heights not seen since 2003 as smoke from B.C.'s forest fires blanketed the city for a second day. The eerie haze continues to hang over much of Western Canada, with a warning that the elderly, small children and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions could be in for a tough weekend.

Calgary's air-quality index sank into the very poor category Friday morning, then hovered into the poor and fair range for much of the day as B.C. fought to contain some 300 forest fires. More than 1,200 residents were forced from their homes in the central part of that province. "We haven't experienced such conditions to this capacity since 2003 with the wildfires in Kelowna," said Environment Alberta spokesperson Ogho Ikhalo.

In Alberta, warnings were issued Thursday as 23 air-quality monitors across the province began recording high levels of fine particulate matter. The threshold for a "very poor" air-quality rating is 100. Friday morning, a station in east Calgary measured 151.

In Edmonton, where the index reached 235 on Thursday, hospital emergency departments saw up to a 20 per cent increase in the number of respiratory complaints.

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