Wildfires Result in Air Quality Advisories Across Western Canada, Including 74 in Alberta

Smoke from wildfires blankets the city as a couple has a picnic in Edmonton, May 11, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

Air quality advisories have been issued across Western Canada as smoky skies continue to afflict a large swath of Alberta as well as parts of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.

Environment Canada issued 74 air quality alerts for Alberta alone May 13 as the province contends with 45 active wildfires, including two classified as out of control.

Smoky conditions are expected to continue through May 14 in northern Alberta, causing “poor air quality and reduced visibility,” Environment Canada says.

Environment Canada is reporting “very high risk”—or level 10-plus—on the air quality health index for the area surrounding Fort McMurray, Fort Chipewyan, Rainbow Lake, Peace River, and Whitecourt.

Edmonton, Medicine Hat, Drayton Valley, and Cold Lake were under an advisory May 12 but the air quality has improved, with Edmonton dropping back to moderate risk on the air-quality health index.

Ten air quality alerts were also issued for northern Saskatchewan due to smoke from the 15 wildfires in the region. Environment Canada said air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke was likely to “fluctuate over short distances,” adding that it can vary considerably from hour to hour.

Areas along the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border are also under an air quality warning May 13 just a day after the province issued a bulletin saying a wildfire near Flin Flon had forced the evacuation of Cranberry Portage.

“Approximately 500 residents are affected at this time, but that number may increase as conditions change,” the province’s statement said, adding that high winds and drought conditions were exacerbating the situation.

Smoke from the prairies is expected to reduce air quality in Ontario by the morning of May 14, McEwen said. Northern and central Ontario will be impacted first with smoke drifting into Sudbury and North Bay in the early morning hours. It is also expected to drift to Lake Erie, Windsor, Niagara, Hamilton, and Kingston over the course of the day with haze or smoke moving as far east as Ottawa and Montreal.

BC and Northwest Territories

British Columbia had only two air quality advisories May 13 with smoke continuing to plague the Fort Nelson and North Peace River regions. The alerts come days after the B.C. government issued a May 9 evacuation order for both the town of Fort Nelson, and Fort Nelson First Nation.

Rob Fraser, mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality based in Fort Nelson, said fire crews and emergency workers were preparing a “last stand” May 12 for the possibility that strong winds would push the nearby Parker Lake wildfire directly into the town itself.

The Parker Lake fire, last measured at 41 square kilometres on the afternoon of May 12.

Environment Canada also issued four air quality alerts for the Northwest Territories saying that  poor air quality and reduced visibility could be expected throughout the day and into the evening in the Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Hay River, and Thebacha regions.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that, as of May 13, roughly 90 fires were burning across the country, including more than 30 that were classified as out of control.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to one’s health even at low concentrations, Environment Canada noted, adding that reducing exposure to smoke is recommended whenever possible.

People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant women, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke, the ministry said.

Wildfire season typically runs from early April to late October.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.