Saskatoon, west central Sask. issued air quality warnings

Wildfires burning in Alberta have prompted a second day of air quality warnings in Saskatchewan.

Environment Canada issued statements Friday saying northwest winds are spreading smoke from wildfires in northeast Alberta into portions of western Saskatchewan, including Saskatoon.

The agency warns smoke near the ground is causing very high health risk conditions, and people might experience symptoms such as increased coughing, headaches or shortness of breath.

Those most at risk include children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma and COPD.

Although the weather statement doesn’t yet stretch to the southern part of the province, people in other communities are starting to smell a whiff of smoke in the air.

The province’s chief medical health officer says smoke conditions will be different depending on what area you live in and those conditions will likely change from hour to hour depending on the wind.

“If there is ground-level smoke and especially if you can smell smoke, especially if you are sensitive to smoke or you have underlying risk factors, you should modify your outdoor activities,” explained Dr. Saqib Shahab.

Shahab said if visibility is good for a kilometre then it’s okay to do regular activities outside.

Environment Canada encourages people to check local weather forecasts and alerts in the coming days to know when extra care will be needed.

As of 11 a.m. Friday, the following areas were included in the alert:

• City of Saskatoon
• Green Lake
• R.M. of Beaver River including Pierceland and Goodsoil
• R.M. of Big River including Big River and Chitek Lake
• R.M. of Loon Lake including Loon Lake and Makwa
• R.M. of Meadow Lake including Waterhen Res.
• Buffalo Narrows and Peter Pond Lake
• Île à la Crosse and Beauval
• Cluff Lake Mine
• La Loche and Clearwater River Prov. Park
• City of Prince Albert
• District of Lakeland including Emma Lake and Anglin Lake
• R.M. of Birch Hills including Muskoday Res.
• R.M. of Buckland including Wahpeton Res. and Spruce Home
• R.M. of Canwood including Debden and Big River Res.
• R.M. of Duck Lake including Duck Lake and Beardy’s Res.
• R.M. of Garden River including Meath Park and Albertville
• R.M. of Leask including Leask Mistawasis Res. and Parkside
• R.M. of Meeting Lake
• R.M. of Paddockwood including Candle Lake and Paddockwood
• R.M. of Prince Albert including Davis
• R.M. of Shellbrook including Sturgeon Lake Res.
• R.M. of Spiritwood including Spiritwood and Leoville
• R.M. of St Louis including One Arrow Res. and Domremy
• R.M. of Battle River including Sweet Grass Res. and Delmas
• R.M. of Britannia including Hillmond
• R.M. of Buffalo including Wilkie and Phippen
• R.M. of Cut Knife including Cut Knife
• R.M. of Douglas including Speers Richard and Alticane
• R.M. of Eldon including Maidstone and Waseca
• R.M. of Frenchman Butte including St. Walburg
• R.M. of Glenside north of Biggar
• R.M. of Hillsdale including Neilburg and Baldwinton
• R.M. of Manitou Lake including Marsden
• R.M. of Mayfield including Maymont Denholm and Fielding
• R.M. of Medstead including Medstead Belbutte and Birch Lake
• R.M. of Meota including Meota and The Battlefords Prov. Park
• R.M. of Mervin including Turtleford Mervin and Spruce Lake
• R.M. of North Battleford northwest of The Battlefords
• R.M. of Parkdale including Glaslyn and Fairholme
• R.M. of Paynton including Paynton
• R.M. of Round Hill including Rabbit Lake and Whitkow
• R.M. of Round Valley including Unity
• R.M. of Senlac including Senlac
• R.M. of Turtle River including Edam and Vawn
• R.M. of Wilton including Lashburn Marshall and Lone Rock
• The Battlefords
• R.M. of Aberdeen including Aberdeen
• R.M. of Bayne including Bruno Peterson and Dana
• R.M. of Blaine Lake including Blaine Lake
• R.M. of Blucher including Allan Clavet Bradwell and Elstow
• R.M. of Colonsay including Colonsay and Meacham
• R.M. of Corman Park including Martensville Warman and Langham
• R.M. of Eagle Creek including Arelee and Sonningdale
• R.M. of Fish Creek including Alvena
• R.M. of Grant including Vonda Prud’homme and Smuts
• R.M. of Great Bend including Radisson and Borden
• R.M. of Hoodoo including Wakaw and Cudworth
• R.M. of Laird including Waldheim Hepburn and Laird
• R.M. of Perdue including Perdue and Kinley
• R.M. of Redberry including Hafford and Krydor
• R.M. of Rosthern including Rosthern Hague and Carlton
• R.M. of Vanscoy including Delisle Asquith and Vanscoy
• R.M. of Viscount including Viscount and Plunkett