Smoke in Niapwin on June 4, 2025. (Jo Lukinchuk/Facebook)

Air quality warnings from wildfire smoke issued in Saskatchewan

By CKOM News Jun 7, 2025 | 11:23 AM

Air quality warnings were issued for many parts of Saskatchewan on Saturday morning as northwest winds moved wildfire smoke in from B.C. and Alberta fires, adding to the smoke already in the province.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said the warnings, which cover many northern areas as well as Swift Current, Prince Albert and Saskatoon and a number of RMs, will cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility with an Air Quality Health Index greater than 10, or very high risk.

A warning for high-risk air in Regina was also issued by ECCC around noon on Saturday.

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Air quality was affected over much of Saskatchewan because of wildfire smoke on June 7, 2025. (Environment and Climate Change Canada)

ECCC says that air quality and reduced visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.

“Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations,” the alerts say.

“People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.”

ECCC said people may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough and anyone experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing, severe cough, dizziness or chest pains should stop outdoor activities and contact a health care provider.

They advise that when indoors, people should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible and to protect indoor air from wildfire smoke byusing a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system or a portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles.

ECCC says to limit time outdoors as much as possible, and wearing a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to fine particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.

Parts of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador were also experiencing poor air quality and reduced visibility due to wildfires on Saturday.

Rain in the forecast

There’s finally some rain in the forecast for Saturday, and according to ECCC’s Brian Luzny, it’s the most the north is going to see for the foreseeable future.

“We have a low weather system moving through the prairies this weekend… we’re kind of expecting 10 to 20 millimeters of rain over the next 24 hours.

“It can make a difference in the short term especially,” he said.

As for any additional significant rainfall that might help quell the raging fires, he said there are a few “on and off systems” that will make their way through northern Saskatchewan over the next several days.

“But nothing that looks as significant as what’s coming this weekend. There’s a good chance of rain on Tuesday, but nothing as good as the amount today,” he added.

ECCC was forecasting rain Saturday in the area of the province most affected by wildfires, where 10 to 15 mm was expected in places like La Ronge, Prince Albert National Park, and Narrow Hills Prov. Park, with northwest winds of 20 km/h gusting to 40.

Showers the risk of a thunderstorm were expected in Nipawin, and no rain was forecast in Candle Lake and Smeaton, where ECCC said northwest winds of 40 km/h would be gusting to 70.

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Lara Fominoff and The Canadian Press

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