(650 CKOM file photo)

By CJME News Staff

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality statements across Saskatchewan

Jun 12, 2023 | 10:56 AM

A lot of Saskatchewan residents woke up under a blanket of smoke again Monday.

Environment Canada issued special air quality statements for about two-thirds of the province, including Saskatoon, Humboldt, Nipawin and Prince Albert.

Stephen Berg, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the smoke will persist for a couple of days.

“We’ll have to see where things go,” Berg said. “There’s a little bit of a system that’s coming in over the next couple days that might — might — bring improvements, but because of all the smoke in northern Alberta, northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, it’s fairly likely that there’d be some more smoke that comes in from there depending on the flow situation.”

The weather statement said the smoke from wildfires was causing reduced visibility, as well as poor air quality that could affect people’s health.

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“This will be a high-risk event so people — especially with underlying health conditions, young children, older adults, pregnant people and people who work outdoors — might be at higher risk of developing health problems with this smoke,” Berg said. “That’s one thing that people need to really keep in mind. But it’ll affect everybody in some way or another.”

Berg noted special air quality statements are issued when the Air Quality Health Index is 7 or above. The southern third of the province may see some smoke Monday, but not enough for a statement to be in the offing.

“It doesn’t appear that (the smoke) will get quite as far south as Regina or Swift Current, although their forecast Air Quality Health Index is going to be in the moderate category, so that’ll be a bit of an issue for the same vulnerable population,” Berg said. “Kindersley, that region or Outlook might be in a bit of the smoke, but it doesn’t appear like it’ll get as far south as Regina, Moose Jaw (or) Swift Current.”

Berg noted the system that’s expected to arrive in the province from the west might clear out the smoke in the next couple of days in areas like Saskatoon, but that’s not a given.

“It’s kind of hard to say at this moment, especially if new fires start — which is quite a possibility since the threat level is pretty high,” Berg said.

Saskatoon preparing for heat wave

Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Lloydminster on Monday, but that was the only city in the province under that advisory.

Even so, Saskatoon activated its Extreme Heat Emergency Response Plan on Sunday and will keep it operating until Wednesday.

According to a media release, the plan “is a co-ordinated response that provides residents with access to cooling locations, outreach services, wellness checks and water distribution during extreme heat.”

There are a number of cool-down locations and places where water will be distributed around the city, while everyone will have access to misting tents as another way to keep their cool.