‘Any smoke is bad smoke;’ ECCC says Simcoe Muskoka residents still at risk

For residents of Simcoe and Muskoka, the smell of wildfire smoke may have died down since Wednesday, but as the air quality fluctuates, experts say the threat of health risks lingers.

“Any smoke is bad smoke,” says climatologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Dave Phillips.

“It doesn’t matter how low it is, it’s toxic, it’s bad for your health,” Phillips warns.

To minimize that risk, maybe businesses in the area have opted to change scheduling, such as lifeguards along Barrie’s Centennial Beach, who have had to adjust their shift times.

The river bar at Shaka Wasaga Boat Cruises in Wasaga Beach had to close for consecutive days due to the smoke during what business owners say is crucial time.

“It’s quite popular being downtown at the beachfront. Over the past couple of days there’s been nobody, it’s been a complete ghost town,“ Amanda Mazzotta, owner of Shaka Wasaga Boat Cruises, tells CTV News.

Despite a Friday morning closure, the business was able to reopen Friday afternoon as conditions improved.

CTV News caught up with construction workers in south Barrie, who claimed to be relieved.

“It’s actually pretty nice. It’s a bit of a breeze and you can’t really notice the smoke as much,” said Chris Hansford, owner of CM Drain, who was working outside with his crew.

According to ECCC, Barrie fluctuated to a low-risk air quality index of two today.

But the weather agency warns that fast-shifting winds could quickly change that.

“What we’re going to see over the next couple of days is that back and forth and up and down,” Phillips warns.