PEI·UpdatedEnvironment Canada has now lifted an air quality statement it issued early Monday for western P.E.I., which had been experiencing smoke in the air from a wildfire in Nova Scotia.Smoke can cause breathing issues for children, seniors, people with lung conditionsMarilee Devries · CBC News · Posted: Aug 25, 2025 9:22 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoAn air quality alert was issued for Prince County early Monday due to smoke from a wildfire in Annapolis County, N.S. (Environment Canada)Environment Canada has now lifted an air quality statement it issued early Monday for western P.E.I., which had been experiencing smoke in the air from a wildfire in Nova Scotia.”Smoke is no longer expected or has moved out of the area,” the agency said in a message at 3:32 p.m. AT. In the statement issued earlier Monday, the weather agency said smoke from a fire near Long Lake in Annapolis County, N.S., was causing or expected to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility in some areas of Prince County. “All that smoke is being carried over and really settling in and making it really hard to breathe,” said CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin. Environment Canada said local smoke concentrations would vary depending on changes to wind speed or direction.A helicopter drops water onto the Long Lake wildfire in Annapolis County, N.S. (Province of Nova Scotia)People aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and people who work outdoors were told to “avoid strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms,” the statement said. For those without pre-existing conditions, reduced air quality can cause mild eye, nose and throat irritation, while more serious but less common symptoms include chest pains and a severe cough, according to the agency.Rain could helpSimpkin said the rain in the forecast could be helpful in terms of improving air quality — but only if there’s a lot of it. “It does tend to grab onto those smoke particles and bring them down and settle them out of the air,” she said. “But it also enables some of the smoke molecules that are in the upper levels of the atmosphere to come back down again, too. So unless we get a good soaking, rain shower activity doesn’t do a whole lot to help out in the air quality.”The good news, said Simpkin, is that there is 10 to 30 mm of rain in the forecast Monday night for Nova Scotia. “Hopefully that will alleviate some of the smoke, at least, coming from the wildfire,” she said. In the meantime, people in western P.E.I. were being reminded that as smoke levels increase, so do health risks. Environment Canada recommended taking the following precautions: Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events. When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles. When outdoors, wear a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a N95 or equivalent respirator). Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution. ABOUT THE AUTHORMarilee Devries is a journalist with CBC P.E.I. She has a journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She can be reached at marilee.devries@cbc.caWith files from Island Morning
Air quality alert tied to N.S. smoke now lifted for P.E.I.’s Prince County
