Smoke from the wildfires near Fort McMurray is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in the city of Saskatoon.
Environment Canada issued an air quality statement Sunday for areas downwind from the Alberta community, including Kindersley, the Battlefords, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Humboldt.
However, the forecast shows winds will shift on Monday and help disperse the smoke.
The agency warns people might experience symptoms such as increased coughing, headaches or shortness of breath.
Those most at risk include children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma and COPD.
The province’s chief medical health officer said earlier this month that if visibility is good for a kilometre then it’s okay to do regular activities outside.
“If there is ground-level smoke and especially if you can smell smoke, especially if you are sensitive to smoke or you have underlying risk factors, you should modify your outdoor activities,” explained Dr. Saqib Shahab.
He added that if medication is required, make sure it is updated and taken regularly.
As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the following areas were included in the alert:
- City of Saskatoon
- R.M. of Battle River including Sweet Grass Res. and Delmas
- R.M. of Britannia including Hillmond
- R.M. of Buffalo including Wilkie and Phippen
- R.M. of Cut Knife including Cut Knife
- R.M. of Douglas including Speers Richard and Alticane
- R.M. of Eldon including Maidstone and Waseca
- R.M. of Frenchman Butte including St. Walburg
- R.M. of Glenside north of Biggar
- R.M. of Hillsdale including Neilburg and Baldwinton
- R.M. of Manitou Lake including Marsden
- R.M. of Mayfield including Maymont Denholm and Fielding
- R.M. of Medstead including Medstead Belbutte and Birch Lake
- R.M. of Meota including Meota and The Battlefords Prov. Park
- R.M. of Mervin including Turtleford Mervin and Spruce Lake
- R.M. of North Battleford northwest of The Battlefords
- R.M. of Parkdale including Glaslyn and Fairholme
- R.M. of Paynton including Paynton
- R.M. of Round Hill including Rabbit Lake and Whitkow
- R.M. of Round Valley including Unity
- R.M. of Senlac including Senlac
- R.M. of Turtle River including Edam and Vawn
- R.M. of Wilton including Lashburn Marshall and Lone Rock
- The Battlefords
- City of Prince Albert
- District of Lakeland including Emma Lake and Anglin Lake
- R.M. of Birch Hills including Muskoday Res.
- R.M. of Buckland including Wahpeton Res. and Spruce Home
- R.M. of Canwood including Debden and Big River Res.
- R.M. of Duck Lake including Duck Lake and Beardy’s Res.
- R.M. of Garden River including Meath Park and Albertville
- R.M. of Leask including Leask Mistawasis Res. and Parkside
- R.M. of Meeting Lake
- R.M. of Paddockwood including Candle Lake and Paddockwood
- R.M. of Prince Albert including Davis
- R.M. of Shellbrook including Sturgeon Lake Res.
- R.M. of Spiritwood including Spiritwood and Leoville
- R.M. of St Louis including One Arrow Res. and Domremy
- R.M. of Big Quill including Wynyard Dafoe and Kandahar
- R.M. of Elfros including Elfros Leslie and Mozart
- R.M. of Emerald including Wishart and Bankend
- R.M. of Foam Lake including Foam Lake and Fishing Lake Res.
- R.M. of Humboldt including Humboldt Carmel and Fulda
- R.M. of Ituna Bon Accord including Ituna and Hubbard
- R.M. of Kellross including Kelliher and Lestock
- R.M. of Kelvington including Yellowquill Res.
- R.M. of Kutawa including Raymore Punnichy and Poorman Res.
- R.M. of Lakeside including Watson and Quill Lake
- R.M. of Lakeview including Wadena and Clair
- R.M. of Last Mountain Valley including Govan and Duval
- R.M. of Leroy including Leroy
- R.M. of Mount Hope including Semans
- R.M. of Ponass Lake including Rose Valley Fosston and Nora
- R.M. of Prairie Rose including Jansen and Esk
- R.M. of Sasman including Margo Kylemore and Nut Mountain
- R.M. of Spalding including Spalding
- R.M. of St Peter including Muenster and Lake Lenore
- R.M. of Touchwood including Serath and Touchwood Hills Prov. Park
- R.M. of Usborne including Lanigan Drake and Guernsey
- R.M. of Wolverine including Burr
- R.M. of Wreford including Nokomis and Venn
- 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