Edmonton set for prolonged heat wave as warning issued

Environment Canada has issued an advisory about a prolonged heat event that may stretch on for 10 days with daytime highs between 28 and 35 C for most of Alberta.

Justin Shelley, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, told CBCthat the peak in temperature is expected to be later this week going into the weekend.

"We have a building upper ridge of high pressure in the atmosphere that's going to more or less centreitself over Alberta for the next week or so,"Shelley said.

"People will have to take necessary precautions as this will be a prolonged heat event."

Heat warnings are issued when very high temperature conditions are expected to pose an elevated risk of heat illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

The City of Edmonton has activated itsextreme weather response which will include measures to keep vulnerable people safe during the hot weather.

The response is expected to end next Tuesday but may be extended depending on the weather.

This includes increasing access to drinking water with most of the water stations located downtown and on the north side of thecity.

A complete list of water stations isavailable herewith stations across the city.

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How to stay cool in a heat wave

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Edmontonians have their own ways to stay cool when temperatures rise but what actually works and why? Travis McEwan speaks to a doctor about the key ways to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.

Caitlin Beaton, program manager of homelessness prevention with the city,told CBCthe response involves opening city facilitiesincludingrecreationcentres, pools and libraries to ensure access to water.

Beaton said the city works with the Sector Emergency Response, a collaboration of 25 agencies that work to support vulnerable people in Edmonton.

"We work to develop the tools and information that we distribute to our partners and then our partners, which include health services, police, community agencies, drop-ins and shelters, they also work to distribute that information to their people and clients that would access services."

Beaton said that if Edmontonians see others who are in distress, they can dial 211 and press 3 to reach the city's crisis diversion team which will assist.

WATCH | How social agencies are helping the city's most vulnerable during a heat wave:

Bissell Centre prepares to help Edmonton's most vulnerable during another heat wave

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The CBC's Lindsay Warner sat down with Bissell Centre's director of community development and advocacy to talk about how they are preparing for the heat wave.

TheBissell Centre will act as a water station, in addition to doing outreach to help community members who are homeless.

Laurence Braun-Woodbury with Bissell said they have taken multiple steps to ensure they reach people who need help.

"Every week we are distributing hundreds of bottles of water to folks who need it, and we are prepared with weather appropriate clothing, including hats that we're distributing,"Braun-Woodbury said.

"Sunscreen in our nursing station has been equipped with the medicines necessary to respond to illnesses associated with exposure and extreme heat."

Environment Canada advises people to consider rescheduling outdoor activities to cooler hours of the day, staying indoors and hydratedand ensuring the safety of children and animals by not leaving them in vehicles.

Fire ban remains in effect

A fire ban issued July 10 remains in effect for the entire forest protection areadue to the hot and dry conditions. All fire permits issued by the province are suspended or cancelled, and all outdoor wood fires are banned, including those in campgrounds and in backyard firepits. Charcoal barbecues, fireworks and exploding targets are also prohibited.

There are 94 active wildfires in the province, mainly in the north. Twenty-five are classified as out of control, and another 30 are being held. In addition to the fires in the forest protection area, Alberta Wildfire is assisting on three mutual aid fires.

To date this year, wildfires have burned about 277,000 hectares in the province.

The community of Garden River,located about 800 kilometres north of Edmonton in Wood Buffalo National Park,remains under an evacuation order because of a wildfire burning in the area.

On Tuesday, the province announced the immediate closure of Hangingstone Provincial Recreation Area, 34 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, due to an out-of-control wildfire.

The province also said Richardson Wildland Park, 200 km north of Fort McMurray, is closed to "imminent threat" from wildfires.

WATCH | How Edmonton renters are impacted by extreme heat events:

Renters without air conditioning vulnerable in the extreme heat

2 months ago

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While many homeowners retreat to their air-conditioned dwellings to escape the heat wave, not all renters have that option. CBCs Travis McEwan has details on reports about heat-related mortality rates among people who rent their living space.