Wildfire smoke leads to air quality advisory for Regina, Saskatoon

Much of Saskatchewan was placed under an air quality advisory from Environment Canada on Friday, including the province’s two largest cities.

“Wildfire smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility,” the advisory read.

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“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.”

In addition to Regina and Saskatoon, the advisory covered large areas of northern and eastern Saskatchewan.

“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health. The fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the main health risk,” Environment Canada noted in its advisory.

According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, 71 fires were burning around the province on Friday afternoon, with nine of them uncontained and expected to grow in size.

The province has seen 514 fires so far this year, which is well ahead of the five-year average of 343.

The latest on the advisory can be found on Environment Canada’s website.