Smoke from B.C. wildfires hits local air quality
Raging wild fires creating hazy condition for central and southern Saskatchewan
Hazy skies are expected for at least a few more days across virtually all of central and southern Saskatchewan, including Saskatoon and Regina, as forest fires in British Columbia continue to burn.
Smoke from the forest fires is continuing to produce poor air quality and reduced visibility across Western Canada, Environment Canada said Thursday in an air quality alert.
A cold front over central Saskatchewan slumped southward on Thursday, bringing front winds that were expected to switch to the north and help temporarily flush out some smoke. According to Environment Canada, there was “slight improvement” Thursday in visibility and air quality values, as a cold front moved through the province.
Due to the overwhelming smoke from B.C., however, hazy skies are still expected in the coming days “due to smoke aloft with intermittent periods” of reduced visibility and elevated air quality values.
The smoke has also covered much of Alberta. The air-quality index in both Edmonton and Calgary on Wednesday was at 10+, which is considered very high risk.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said 559 fires were burning Wednesday in all corners of the province, with 31 new starts since Tuesday. More than 1,800 blazes have been recorded since the wildfire season began April 1.
The dense smoke is making it more difficult to find fires that were sparked by lightning last weekend, said Kevin Skrepnek of the wildfire service.
“We can almost guarantee that there are fires out there that haven’t been detected yet,” he said, adding that rain is the only solution to the increasing risk but that isn’t in the forecast.
“Rain is going to be absolutely critical. That is what we need to see and not just a small, quick event.”
Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk, says Environment Canada.