Folk festival music fans struggle to cope with wildfire smoke

The SKY was sunny and smoky during the third day of folk fest.

While the air quality had improved considerably from the dense wildfire smoke hanging over the grounds Friday, many festival-goers continued to wear masks while taking in the day’s music.

Amy Attas flew in from out of town to attend the festival with family.

“I live in B.C. now and when it’s this bad, I don’t usually go outside,” she said of the smoke. “I’m wearing a mask because it feels like a good balance.”

Attas didn’t expect the festival to cancel events, but had hoped for more communication about the conditions on Friday and Saturday, when the air quality health index was hovering around 10 — the highest health risk level, during which Environment Canada recommends the cancellation of outdoor activities. The festival had put out three weather updates related to the air quality between both days.

“I don’t know if there’s anything they could do. I hope they’re protecting the performers, especially the older performers,” Attas said.

Dennis Kakoske was also visiting from out of town and expected to see fewer people and more masks. “I thought it was really going to kill the attendance because it was so bad,” he said of the air quality. “I’m surprised that people are kind of taking it in stride… even young kids don’t have masks on.”

Kakoske also didn’t expect the event to be cancelled.

Eva, a volunteer who asked that her last name not be used, decided against camping with friends at the festival when she noted the air quality Thursday night.

“I’ve been struggling with my asthma and the wildfire smoke for a few years,” said Eva, who was wearing an N95 mask, had packed extra asthma medication and had made safety plans with friends in case of an attack.

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“It definitely takes me a while to recover from being outside, even with the mask on.”

She uses four different apps to monitor smoke conditions hour-to-hour and was unable to complete her volunteer shift Friday, when ratings were the worst she had ever seen.

Eva also didn’t expect the festival to cancel.

“It’s a difficult call for the festival to make, but I think having an indoor space for people to recover from the air so they can get back to the city safely would be helpful,” she said. “(And) it would be good if there was more of a consensus about being out in the wildfire smoke.”

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

Eva Wasney
Reporter

Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva.

Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.