A look at wildfire smoke near Central Avenue in Prince Albert. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

AIR QUALITY

Air quality expected to worsen for many parts of northern and central Sask.

May 16, 2023 | 4:36 PM

The air quality for much of northern Saskatchewan is expected to deteriorate in the next day or so as wildfire smoke pushes its way in.

Special air quality statements have already been in place for Prince Albert, North Battleford, Melfort, Meadow Lake and La Ronge. However, the Air Quality Health Index as already hit the very high-risk category for some of these areas.

“We’re still going to feel the effects of the poor air quality,” said Terri Lang with Environment Canada. “Our eyes are going to burn, our throats are going to burn. It’s going to be harder to breathe outside.”

The wildfire smoke has not only led to poor air quality but also reduced visibility in these communities. A video submitted to paNOW shows thick smoke near La Ronge on Tuesday afternoon.

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Lang said the smoke moving through most of Saskatchewan is coming from the wildfires in the northern part of the province.

According to the site PurpleAir, which provides real-time monitoring of particle pollution, the community of Meath Park, outside Prince Albert, registered over 430 PM2.5. Anything over 300 prompts a health warning of emergency conditions.

(PurpleAir.com)

As for when air quality might improve in areas of northern Saskatchewan, Lang said it is hard to pinpoint an actual time.

“We have to wait for a wind shift to come more from the southeast and that doesn’t look like it’ll come for another couple days at least,” she said. “It’s so hard to know exactly how much of the smoke will be around and mixing down to the surface.”

Environment Canada urged people with health issues to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke by limiting their time outdoors.

Prince Albert Minor Baseball announced that games in Prince Albert, Shellbrook and Birch Hills were cancelled Tuesday because of the smoke.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said that as of 3 p.m., there were 28 wildfires burning in Saskatchewan. Of those, six weren’t contained.

The threat of the fires has prompted evacuations of a number of communities in northern Saskatchewan, including Buffalo Narrows and Dillon.

As well, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency issued a fire ban for all Crown lands and provincial parks north of Highway 16, as well as the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District.

–With files from 650 CKOM