Air quality alerts issued as wildfire smoke returns

Wildfire smoke blanketed much of Saskatchewan on Friday.

Environment Canada issued air quality statements for the western half of the province due to smoke from wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and elsewhere in the country.

The alerts include Saskatoon and stretch south to the Lake Diefenbaker area and through the far north.

Early Friday morning, Saskatoon had the poorest air in the province, registering a 9 out of 10 on the air quality health index.

Environment Canada’s Natalie Hasell says exposure to bad air impacts everyone, but people with breathing problems are at a higher risk of experiencing symptoms.

“If you have trouble breathing already, if you have trouble with your heart already, this will easily be exasperated in smoke and heat,” Hasell said.

“Their symptoms could be much worse than a regular day.”

Hasell recommends reducing activities and staying indoors where you can find clean, cool air.

Air conditioners aren’t the solution to escaping the smoke. Hasell reminds people that without a good filter, your AC will just draw bad air into your home.

More air quality alerts are expected to be issued through the day as the smoke plume continues moving southward into Moose Jaw and Regina.

“It will reach them, but (the forecast) does suggest less concentrations than Saskatoon,” Hasell said.

The outlook for the weekend will be hazy, but Hasell says the smoke should be higher in the atmosphere and less of an issue at the surface.