Wildfire smoke prompts London to cancel outdoor recreation programs

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At about 5:15 p.m., the city announced all outdoor programming is cancelled until further notice because of the poor air quality.

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Soccer fields, baseball diamonds and cricket pitches operated by the city as well as outdoor pools, wading pools and Storybook Gardens are closed. Roller skating at Rotary Square and Rhythm Kickboxing on Dundas Place are cancelled, the city said.

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People affected by the cancellations will be contacted directly and provided updates on future cancellations or other changes, the city said.

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The city also reminded residents community centres are available for indoor relief, including East Lions Community Centre, North London Optimist Community Centre, Canada Games Aquatic Centre and South London Community Centre.

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At about 3 p.m., the London fire department said on social media it had received “quite a few” calls asking whether there was a fire in the city and urged people not to call 911 about air quality.

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The air quality health index was rated low risk Wednesday morning, but the national weather agency says conditions will worsen throughout the day as wildfire smoke moved into the region.

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“If we get closer to Kitchener and Toronto, it’s very, very bad there,” said Simon Legault, an Environment Canada meteorologist.

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The index for London at 6 p.m. was 10+, or very high risk.

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“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” the agency said.

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Farther east, smoke from wildfires in Ontario and the Northwest Territories tinted the sun orange and the skies over Montreal a dull yellow early Tuesday.

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Orange alerts are the second-highest in Environment Canada’s colour-coded system and indicate severe weather likely to cause significant damage or wildfire smoke likely to cause significant health impacts.

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Similar air quality warnings caused by wildfire smoke were issued for London in June 2023 and August 2025.

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By Wednesday evening, Environment Canada had ended the heat warning for London.

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Earlier, the agency noted that hot and humid conditions are also contributing to deteriorating air quality. The heat warning stated that wildfire smoke may limit heating during the daytime leading to highs lower than the expected 29 to 33 C.

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Heat and air quality warnings are issued when conditions are expected to pose elevated health risks.

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People aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, and those with existing health conditions are more likely to be affected by wildfire smoke, Environment Canada says.

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People are advised to limit their time outdoors or wear a well-constructed, well-fitting respirator, such as a NIOSH-certified N95 mask, if they must spend time outside, the agency says.

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“If you need to get outside, do less strenuous activities,” Legault said, adding that breathing in smoke will cause irritation that gets heightened the more people are exposed to it.

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Residents may experience eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. In more serious, but less common, cases, Environment Canada advises seeking medical attention for symptoms including wheezing, chest pain or a severe cough.

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ayoung@postmedia.com

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