(Saskatchewan Health Authority/Twitter)

By paNOW Staff

AIR QUALITY

Critical air quality alerts issued for communities in northern Saskatchewan

May 12, 2023 | 10:42 AM

Some northern Saskatchewan communities are under critical air quality alerts due to wildfire smoke.

The province issued critical alerts for Buffalo Narrows, Peter Pond Lake, Île à la Crosse and Beauval.

According to the alert, residents are asked to stop outdoor activities and seek medical attention if they experience shortness of breath, wheezing, severe cough, dizziness, or chest pains.

“If you can try and avoid the smoke, stay indoors as much as you can and if you can, get to areas with filtered air,” said Meteorologist Terri Lang with Environment Canada.

She added you should make sure indoor air is clean and consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter. If you must spend time outdoors, be sure to wear a well-fitted respirator-type mask such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator.

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Mayor Nick Daigneault from the Village of Beauval said this is a yearly occurrence for residents during wildfire season.

“This is probably the second or third time that we’ve gone through a summer quite like this where wildfires have plagued the region and with the northwest winds blowing this way, we often become a victim of smoke.”

He added they have sent out packages to residents and have activated the Emergency Operations Centre line for those wanting information on what to do.

A clean air zone has also been established at the Village gymnasium for those who do not have an air purifier for their home.

As for when the alert could be lifted, Lang didn’t have an exact date as wildfires continue to burn and conditions are not favourable going forward.

“With the heat building in, the dry air coming in this weekend, it may just get worse especially if the fires flare up again.”

Forecasts for areas of northern Saskatchewan have temperatures approaching 30 degrees for this weekend.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), 22 active fires are burning in Saskatchewan. Smoke could also be drifting from wildfires in Alberta, where 73 fires are burning.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow