Saskatchewan

Another year of higher than average smoke coverage in Sask. brings respiratory concerns

Hundreds of air quality advisories have already been issued in Saskatchewan this summer, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. That's led to a health advocate in the province fielding more calls for respiratory concerns.

Some areas of province have recorded highest-ever smoke levels over the last 2 years

A smokey community of Southend is shown
Smoke coverage in Southend, a community that is part of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, in August 2024. (Submitted by Tommy Bird)

Hundreds of air quality advisories have already been issued in Saskatchewan this summer, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). That's led to a health advocate in the province fielding more calls for respiratory concerns.

ECCC keeps records of smoke hours, which are hours where the visibility is reduced by smoke to 10 kilometres or less, in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert and La Ronge.

According to the data, all of those locations have had some of their most smoke hours ever over the last two years. For instance, Saskatoon recorded 321 smoke hours last year and 218 this year — its two highest totals ever.

Air quality advisories and health advocates say heavy smoke conditions put everyone at risk regardless of their age or health. Jill Hubick, a certified respiratory educator at Lung Saskatchewan, said the organization has been receiving more calls from concerned residents over the last two years.

"We see the negative impact it has on our population, especially those living with lung diseases. It's troubling, it's concerning," she said. 

WATCH | Health signs to watch for as wildfire smoke blankets Sask.: 

Health signs to watch for as wildfire smoke blankets Sask.

5 months ago
Duration 1:18
Jill Hubick, a registered nurse with Lung Saskatchewan, says everyone should take precautions during extreme wildfire conditions when the air quality is poor.

Hubick said wildfire smoke could have serious health implications, especially for vulnerable populations like infants or people with asthma.

"Our older populations as well — chances are they do have an underlying condition that wildfire smoke is making much more difficult to manage," she said.

Hubick said the smoke has become difficult to avoid. She said wearing an N95 mask and taking breaks to get indoors whenever possible could help prevent serious illnesses. 

Saskatoon recorded only four smoke hours in 2022. That number was zero for Regina in the same year.

ECCC meteorologist Terri Lang said Saskatchewan gets smoke from fires largely burning in Northwest Territories, Yukon, B.C., Alberta, or the Pacific northwest. Occasionally, she said, the province could also get smoke from Manitoba if certain wind directions prevail. 

"We're a byproduct of the geography plus half our province is covered in trees," she said.

"Those people who are at-risk from this kind of air quality with respect to the wildfire smoke, it's certainly been a tough couple of years for them."

A hazy skyline of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Smoky skies were a regular occurrence in Saskatoon last summer. (CBC News)

According to the Canadian Institute for Forest Fires, wildfires burned 17,347,637 hectares of land in Canada last year — exceeding the previous high of 7,105,998 hectares from 1995. This year, fires have burned 5,106, 987 hectares as of Thursday.

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said the province had seen 565 fires as of Thursday — above the five-year average of 357.

Lang said the higher number of fires correlates to above average temperatures and below average precipitation over the last couple years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shlok Talati

Journalist

Based in Regina, Shlok Talati is a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan. Talati joined CBC News as a Donaldson Scholar in 2023. He has since worked with The World This Hour, CBC Toronto's digital desk, and CBC Sask. He holds a master of journalism from the University of King's College, Halifax. You can reach him at shlok.talati@cbc.ca