It has been a summer of wildfires in Western Canada with firefighters battling blazes in British Columbia over the last couple months.

Now, fires have begun in Northern Saskatchewan and smoke from the fires are causing air pollution throughout the province.

Smoke began covering Saskatchewan's skies yesterday and it looks to continue into the beginning of the long weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement which is in effect for all of west central Saskatchewan until further notice.

The following communities have been incorporated into the statement from the weather agency:

  • R.M. of Antelope Park including Loverna and Hoosier
  • R.M. of Biggar including Biggar and Springwater
  • R.M. of Chesterfield including Eatonia and Mantario
  • R.M. of Eye Hill including Macklin Denzil and Evesham
  • R.M. of Grandview including Handel and Kelfield
  • R.M. of Grass Lake including Salvador and Reward
  • R.M. of Heart's Hill including Cactus Lake
  • R.M. of Kindersley including Kindersley Brock and Flaxcombe
  • R.M. of Mariposa including Tramping Lake and Broadacres
  • R.M. of Marriott south of Biggar
  • R.M. of Milton including Alsask and Marengo
  • R.M. of Monet including Elrose Wartime and Forgan
  • R.M. of Mountain View including Herschel and Stranraer
  • R.M. of Newcombe including Glidden and Madison
  • R.M. of Oakdale including Coleville
  • R.M. of Pleasant Valley including McGee and Fiske
  • R.M. of Prairiedale including Major and Smiley
  • R.M. of Progress including Kerrobert and Luseland
  • R.M. of Reford including Landis and Leipzig
  • R.M. of Rosemount including Cando and Traynor
  • R.M. of Snipe Lake including Eston and Plato
  • R.M. of St Andrews including Rosetown and Zealandia
  • R.M. of Tramping Lake including Scott and Revenue
  • R.M. of Winslow including Dodsland and Plenty

Effects on personal health

The elevated air pollution can cause a number of symptoms for residents over the next several hours. This may have an increased effect for children, seniors, and people with lung or cardiovascular disease.

Symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath may be experienced while the air quality statement is in effect.

If you have difficulty breathing, stay inside if at all possible. Environment Canada offers the following tips if your health is affected by the polluted air quality:

  • Find an indoor place that's cool and ventilated.
  • Use an air conditioner that cools and filters air. If you open the windows you may let in more polluted air.
  • If your home isn't air-conditioned, consider going to a public place (library, shopping mall, recreation centre) that is air-conditioned.

 

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