KITIKMEOT
The Kitikmeot was covered in smoke last week as two communities struggled with the result of a wind shift that brought the reality of NWT forest fires to their doorsteps.

Smoke from Northwest Territories' many forest fires travelled up to the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, including Cambridge Bay where the sun barely poked through July 24. - photo courtesy of Keith Morrison

"This is the worst forest fire smoke invasion that anyone has seen up here," stated Cambridge Bay resident George Hakongak by e-mail. "The last time I remember having a lot of forest fire smoke was back in August 1998."

The NWT has seen a busy forest fire season, with the territory's Environment and Natural Resources Department saying July 24 there are now 209 fires burning, adding this is the worst fire season in more than 30 years.

"I can't imagine what it is like for residents in the NWT that are close by the fires," said Hakongak. "Kugluktuk apparently is thick with the smoke today."

Kugluktuk was seeing its second day of thick smoke cover, greatly diminishing visibility and causing health concerns.

"I'm really surprised the Department of Health hasn't issued an advisory," said Kugluktuk resident Sean Wallace. "This is day two of very poor air quality and people are suffering. My concerns are for the elders, children, people with breathing issues and those working outside. They should be advised to stay inside and avoid strenuous activities."

Wallace said he's seen photos of the infamous, continuous fire at the Iqaluit dump.

"I've seen pictures of Iqaluit shrouded in half the smoke we have and the Department of Health will issue an advisory. This is a serious health risk for a lot of Kugluktukmuit," he said.

Early July 22, the Environment Canada Air Health Quality Index showed levels of air quality exceeding the one-to-10 scale in Yellowknife - which is surrounded by fires - meaning it's a "very high risk" for people to breathe the air, especially people with respiratory problems, children and the elderly.

The Government of Nunavut's Department of Health only heard of the smoke covering Kugluktuk July 24. After hearing from the community, the department reviewed what information the NWT was releasing.

"We have, just a little while ago, issued a health advisory for Kugluktuk," said Dr. Maureen Baikie, deputy chief medical officer for health, at 2 p.m. July 24.

Normal protocol involves several steps. Regional staff needs to advise head office in Iqaluit, staff there then check the facts and conduct a risk assessment and, finally, a decision is made on whether to issue an advisory, which includes what to do in the situation.

"It's my understanding now that the wind has shifted and the smoke has decreased," said Baikie.

An Air Health Quality Index index is not available for Kugluktuk as measurements of particulates and ozone are not available for the area.

When asked if this was the first time the smoke from this season had reached the Kitikmeot communities, Baikie said it was the first report that she was aware of.

A health advisory was released in Cambridge Bay later in the day.

Because it's difficult to monitor the smoke situation, the advisory leaves it to residents to determine what action may be called for in future.

"We are in the third week of July, which is the typical peak of the forest fire season where we have the strongest amount of daytime heating and thunderstorms are fairly active still," said Brian Proctor, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada in Edmonton. "So this is just a bad time of the year to be experiencing this and it doesn't look like it is going to get any better in the short term."

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