Air quality affects our health and well-being.  Good air quality supports a healthy way of life. However, air quality can change very quickly, just like the weather. This is especially true during forest fire season.

Forest fire or wildfire smoke affects people differently.  This is based on how long a person is exposed to smoke, their age and health. 

GNWT’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources monitors air quality across the NWT as part of the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network. For information on current outdoor air quality, see:

• Government of Canada’s Public Weather Alerts for Northwest Territories
• NWT Air Quality Monitoring Network 
• Air quality health index
• http://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

For more information on health effects related to forest fire or wildfire smoke see:

• Smoke Exposure from Wildfire: Guidelines for Protecting Community Health and Wellbeing
• Wildfire Smoke and Your Health - Air Quality Self-Assessment Method
• Wildfire Smoke Information

Environmental Health Officers also advocate and work with tenants and landlords with regard to indoor air quality issues in rental housing. For more general information on air quality, visit the Government of Canada’s Website:

• Health effects of air pollution
• Causes of poor indoor air quality
• Indoor air contaminants
• Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines