Health concerns, event cancellations grow as wildfire smoke persists across Ontario

TORONTO — Wildfires that have devastated communities in northern Ontario are also causing health concerns and event cancellations across southern parts of the province as thick smoke plumes linger in the sky for another day.

Toronto is still not feeling any relief after wildfire smoke turned the city’s skyline orange on Wednesday, prompting some residents to don protective face masks and stay indoors. Environment Canada says the air quality in the city continues to be “very high risk” on Thursday morning.

Air quality warnings are in place from Thunder Bay to Kingston and down to Toronto, London and Windsor, as residents of several First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario flee forest fires.

Environment Canada has said winds from the northwest will continue to blanket southern Ontario with smoke until at least Friday.