One of the several dozen wildfires burning in Saskatchewan this photo taken about five kilometres from Montreal Lake.

One of the several dozen wildfires burning in Saskatchewan this photo taken about five kilometres from Montreal Lake.
Photo Credit: Riley Bloodworth

Smokey Saskatchewan: Wildfires in the west cause health warning

Smoke from dozens of forest fires in the central prairie province of Saskatchewan is blanketing almost the entire province.

The smoke is affecting residents from Uranium City in the north to Oxbow in the southeast — and all points in between.

Smoke from fires in the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan has blanketed almost the entire central prairie province from Uranium City to Oxbow
Smoke from fires in the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan has blanketed almost the entire central prairie province from Uranium City to Oxbow © Google- MM
Before and after shots of smoky air in Saskatoon.
Before and after shots of smoky air in Saskatoon. © Dalton Moosomin
Smoky conditions in Saskatoon are expected to continue throughout the week. (Dalton Moosomin)
Smoky conditions in Saskatoon are expected to continue throughout the week. (Dalton Moosomin)

An Environment Canada advisory says the smoke may pose potentially serious health risks.  It says visibility in many areas is reduced to less than two kilometres. The advisory now covers the entire province.

Fire hotspots shown on map from Natural Resources Canada showing the largest fires are burning in the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan as of June 30, 2015
Fire hotspots shown on map from Natural Resources Canada showing the largest fires are burning in the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan as of June 30, 2015 © NRC-CWFIS

The smoke is expected to persist over the next couple of days as winds will remain from the northwest and little to no precipitation is expected to flush out the smoke and haze.

Smoke obscures Regina
Smoke obscures the provincial capital, Regina © Tory Gillis- CBC
La Loche Lake, June 26, 2015 in the northeast part of the province
La Loche Lake, June 26, 2015 in the northeast part of the province © Kerry Lemaigre-Williment)

In Saskatchewan there have been 5 new wildfires in the last 24 hours, with 64 currently burning. Across Canada there have been 113 new fires started in the last 24 hours, with 441 burning in total, most in western and northern Canada: British Columbia (99, the Northwest Territories (45), Alberta (125), and Manitoba (61)

Categories: Environment & Animal Life, Health
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Do you want to report an error or a typo? Click here!

For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.