Air quality warning issued for Saskatoon 

Weldon McCallum, an evacuation coordinator with the City of Prince Albert, says thousands of people are now displaced due to the ongoing wildfires.

Saskatoon residents woke up to another smoky morning on Saturday as wildfire smoke engulfed the city once again.

The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued an air quality warning for Saskatoon, warning that the smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility.

“As a cold front tracks through the area this morning, poor air quality is expected,” the ECCC said in the warning issued shortly after 10 a.m. “Once the cold front and associated showers pass this afternoon, there is expected to be slight improvement.”

Residents are advised to take precautions to protect their health, including limiting their time outdoors, keeping windows and doors closed, and using air purifiers to reduce indoor pollution.

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Vulnerable populations, such as seniors, young children, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are particularly at risk and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure to poor air quality.ECCC says the city’s air quality is expected to improve once the cold front passes. However, air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and vary considerably from hour to hour.

As of 10:30 a.m. on June 7, there were 24 active wildfires burning in the northern part of Saskatchewan, with only three of them considered contained.