(Montreal) The forest fires raging in Quebec are causing atmospheric conditions that are likely to lead to deterioration of air quality in several regions, including Montreal.
Environment Canada issued a smog warning on Monday morning due to high concentrations of fine particles emitted by forest fires in Quebec that will lead to poor air quality.
In the early morning, the Society for the Protection of Forests Against Fire (SOPFEU) reported that 156 fires were active in Quebec, mainly in the northwest and on the North Shore.
The federal agency specifies that in the Montreal region, the air quality could deteriorate in the afternoon and that the high concentrations of pollutants should persist until Tuesday.
The smog warning was also in effect for the regions of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Laurentides and Lanaudière, for Mauricie including La Tuque, Montérégie, Centre-du-Québec and Saguenay-Lac-Saint- Jeans.
In Sept-Îles, a special weather report is in effect; it warns of the presence of high concentrations of fine particles due to forest fires which lead to poor air quality, this Monday and Tuesday night.
Environment Canada points out that smog mainly affects asthmatic children and people with respiratory or cardiac diseases. It is therefore recommended that they avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors until the smog warning is lifted.