Air quality watches, statements issued for a large portion of Ontario

With wildfire smoke looming over Ontario, Environment Canada has issued air quality watches and statements for a large portion of the province.

The statements run from Sarnia and London north into Fort Albany and include Moosonee, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, and vary depending on location.

London and Sarnia are expected to be dealing with wildfire smoke throughout Thursday. Conditions are expected to improve overnight but could continue into Friday, according to Environment Canada.

Farther north, the conditions are expected to last for several days, with the agency warning that “as smoke levels increase, health risks increase.”

The watches, which are considered more serious, extend from Attawapiskat west into Saskatchewan as well as from Kirkland Lake north into the northeast