Environment Canada issues Air Quality Statement for Calgary, central AB; Wildfires less of a threat

Another advisory has been issued for Calgary and a large swath of the province that is still sitting under a hazy sky.

Environment Canada says poor air quality and reduced visibility are hitting areas from the BC border to the Calgary area, as far northwest as Grande Prairie and northeast to the Fort McMurray area.

Meteorologist Dan Kulak said it’s hard to say when this smoky air will move on as the source fires are still raging.

“As long as they keep burning and we have wind coming from the direction of BC, where some of these fires are, or from the Northwest Territories where other fires are burning, or fires in Alberta, as long as that smoke is in the air we could have repeats of what we’ve seen in the last few days,” said Kulak.

Environment Canada says the air quality advisory will likely be in place for at least the next 24 to 48 hours.

Alberta Health Services recommends anyone with respiratory health problems monitor their activities and seek help if need be.

The latest Alberta advisories from Environment Canada can be found here.

Wildfires that are still raging in the province calmed a little Friday with only a couple minor sparks starting from stormy weather overnight.

Environment and Sustainable Resources Development’s (ESRD) latest update shows west of Grande Prairie, along the BC border, the Red Deer Creek fire is still the largest blaze.

Nearly 35,000 hectares have burned with about 3,000 thousand of those on the Alberta side.

Another large blaze west of Nordegg is being held and a fire on the boundary of Banff National Park is now contained.

Even with 17 active fires in Alberta, Dan MacDonnell, public affairs officer with ESRD, tells 660News the smoke being seen in Calgary is mostly from the massive blazes in Northwest Territories.

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