More communities evacuate as crews continue to battle wildfires in northern Sask.

WATCH: As Jasmine Pelletier explains, air quality concerns are causing many residents to flee their homes in northern Saskatchewan.

More communities have been ordered to evacuate as crews continue to battle wildfires in northern Saskatchewan.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 2,800 evacuees in the province, while 11 communities were under an evacuation order, compared to eight on Monday.

Evacuated communities include Canoe Lake / Canoe Narrows, the northern hamlets of Cole Bay and Jans Bay, the Resort Subdivisions of Lac la Plonge and Little Amyot Lake, the northern villages of Beauval and Pinehouse, as well as Île-à-la-Crosse, Montreal Lake Cree Nation, La Plonge Indian Reserve, and Patuanak / English River First Nation.

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According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA), there are 50 active wildfires, with two categorized as contained and 16 uncontained, as of Tuesday afternoon.

Before the Town of Île-à-la-Crosse was ordered to evacuate, some residents were forced to leave due to air quality concerns on Monday, with the community under a voluntary evacuation order.

Environment Canada forecasts widespread smoke to continue Wednesday in Saskatoon, where Île-à-la Crosse already sent some residents hoping to escape the smoke up north.

“We sent people to Saskatoon. And what happens? All the smoke goes to Saskatoon,” said Deputy Mayor Vince Ahenakew.

Ahenakew said Tuesday morning that roughly 200 people have left the village, and while the fire isn’t an immediate threat, the smoke is.

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What began as a voluntary evacuation for residents in Île-à-la Crosse soon became mandatory for those with health concerns.

“We finally decided to get some, some people out,” said Ahenakew. “The hospital sent out the long-term care patients, their patients at the hospital. We did the same here and got a bus coming in from the SPSA”

An air quality warning has been issued for much of the province.

The Air Quality Health Index has reached level 10 in several areas, considered “very high risk,” and Saskatoon residents are feeling the impact.

Some are masking-up just to go outside.

“It makes me feel like I have a cold all the time,” said Aden Ritter, who wore a mask to walk outside in Saskatoon. “It’s hard to breathe. I get a runny nose. Generally unpleasant being outside. Have to keep the doors closed, the doors and windows closed at home. It’s not great.”

Environment Canada says that 2025 has been the third smokiest year on record for Saskatoon and second smokiest year on record for Prince Albert.

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A total of 385 wildfires have been recorded since the beginning of the year, compared to 407 fires in the same period in 2024. The five-year average to date is 312.

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A fire ban, which encompasses the area north of the provincial forest boundary up to the Churchill River, is still in place due to an extreme fire risk. According to the SPSA the ban prohibits any open fires, controlled burns, and fireworks.

The SPSA advises the public to be prepared to evacuate in the event of an evacuation order for their community. People are advised to keep their vehicle fueled, be set to evacuate pets or livestock if needed, and check in on their neighbours.