PROGRESS: The health impacts of a smoky wildfire season

PROGRESS: The health impacts of a smoky wildfire season

When wildfires are burning, even if the community isn’t threatened by the flames and embers, the smoke can still billow into town. That smoke can be more than just annoyance, it can directly impact people’s health and wellness. “Prolonged smoke events can lead to social isolation and negatively impacted mental health,” said Jasmine Lee from Island Health at a wildfire-focused forum held May 20 in Port Alberni. “We generally don’t want people to …