With files from The Canadian Press
Environment Canada (EC) has lifted the air quality advisory for most of southern Ontario.
The weather office had said smoke plumes from forest fires in northeastern Ontario and Quebec shifted south and east of the Barrie area, but the air quality was expected to deteriorate later on Thursday or tonight.
The advisory remains in effect for Minden, Haliburton and southern Haliburton County.
The Ontario government's air quality index predicts a low to moderate risk range for Barrie for the rest of the day and through Friday.
Authorities say despite recent rain in northern Quebec, wildfires continue to rage, and in the coming days, thunderstorms are likely to bring a risk of lightning strikes, which could spark more fires if they hit dry ground.
Quebec's forest fire prevention agency reported 110 active fires Wednesday afternoon, including 73 in the southern half of the province.
The agency has indicated that lightning is the cause of the majority of the wildfires in Quebec this year.
For more details, please consult www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/wildfire-smoke.html.
Banner image - Barrie 360 photo -smokey haze over Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie on Tuesday, June 27, 2023
