N.W.T. wildfire smoke rolls over Nunavut – Nunatsiaq News

Aug 15, 2023

Residents in communities like Arviat and Igloolik report darker, hazier conditions that affect their breathing

The impact of wildfires in the Northwest Territories is being felt in Nunavut, as smoke blanketed some communities.

“Our whole town was still dark until late afternoon,” Arviat resident Robyn Koomuk said Tuesday.

“Even the streetlights were still on at 11 a.m. when we were affected by it.”

The smoke made it difficult to breathe, Koomuk said, especially for people like her who have medical conditions that affect their breathing.

The Northwest Territories has seen an unprecedented wildfire season, with more than two million hectares — an area more than three times bigger than PEI — burned and eight communities evacuated.

Recently, Hay River was evacuated and Yellowknife declared a local state of emergency on Monday. Members of the Canadian Forces were deployed to help with the public safety effort.

Read More: https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/n-w-t-wildfire-smoke-rolls-over-nunavut/