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 (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 Lungs Canada, 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. 

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."

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.