Alberta in for 'a long haul' as firefighters push through hot, dry weekend
CBC
Hot temperatures and dry, windy conditions continue to challenge Alberta firefighters this weekend, as thick wildfire smoke settles over Edmonton and surrounding areas.
On Saturday afternoon, Environment and Climate Change Canada's Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) listed Edmonton's air quality at a seven, or high risk. A special air quality statement is in effect for much of the province, advising people to avoid being outside due to the health risks of the smoke.
Josee St-Onge, Alberta Wildfire information officer, said in an interview with CBC Saturday morning that fire crews are continuing their work.
"Good progress on many of these wildfires, building containment lines and fire guards around communities, but we're expecting another challenging day today," she said
"It's definitely going to be a long haul. Fires that are this size burn very intensely.
According to Alberta Wildfire's online dashboard, as of Saturday morning, 88 wildfires were burning inside Alberta's forest protection zones, and 25 are classified as out of control.
The province is set to provide an update on the wildfire situation at 3 p.m. MT on Saturday.
St-Onge added there is some hope in the forecast.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is projecting rainfall for the start of next week. with temperatures dipping down to around 20 C.
This weekend, temperatures remain 10 C above seasonal.
While a brief respite in weather conditions will help, St-Onge said it will take a prolonged response to get the current wildfire situation under control.
"There's definitely a lot of work ahead. We're only in mid-May and a wildfire season typically goes [until] October," she said.
"So it's definitely a critical situation out there."
As part of the special air quality statement, Environment and Climate Change Canada says people with lung disease or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.
After walking a few laps around the shop, Maria Castagna picks up a glass ornament in the form of a pink, sparkly ice cream cone and smiles widely.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham says he has much unfinished work from his first term in office, as he prepares to make his pitch to voters ahead of the 2026 election.
Moving to Canada from Singapore meant losing close social connections for Iris Akbar, but Akbar says the gift was in finding an affirming space with friends that became like family.
Women and children staying at Regina Transition House now have access to Santa’s workshop — a safe space where mothers can choose Christmas gifts for their children.
A man from Powell River, B.C., is thankful to be alive after a stranger helped him while he was choking at a restaurant during a visit to Whistler.
When it comes to Hamilton readers' favourite library books of 2025, romance and mysteries are in close competition.
From the Detroit Lions losing to Apple iPhones that spontaneously update, Windsorites had things that bugged them this year.
Calgary emergency rooms are “in a state of critical overcapacity” ahead of the anticipated peak of flu season — and to cope with the surge and wait-room crowding, officials are urging doctors to speed up their decisions on whether to admit patients, according to a memo obtained by CBC News.
Northern Ontario's highway system needs improvements in order to make travel safer, a highway safety advocate said.
Hundreds of thousands of used tires are piling up across Ontario as some companies responsible for tire recycling have stopped processing tires amid reduced provincial recycling regulations for tire producers, industry experts say.
People in Guelph facing homelessness will soon have a new place to go during the day.
Islanders are reminded to plan their rides ahead of holiday festivities if they plan on drinking alcohol or using cannabis.
Even before Gwen Healey Akearok began her new role as Nunavut’s Minister of Family Services, she was tuning into the Office of the Auditor General’s (OAG) hearings on the state of the Family Services department.