Over 100 wildfires burning in Nothern Canada

A business in La Ronge started on fire Tuesday, but RCMP said that blaze was not caused by a forest fire.

These early hot days have contributed to a lengthened fire season, meaning that the snow-packed forests which are usually saturated with moisture are drying out faster, creating a longer window when they will be susceptible to fires.

As of Thursday morning, 25 large wildfires – those greater than 250,000 acres – were burning in Canada, the majority of which were clustered in northern Alberta.

The number of people forced from their homes by Saskatchewan wildfire smoke continues to climb, but a provincial official says the smoke is now so thick that it’s actually helping control the fires.

The Saskatoon Fire Department sent them to northern Saskatchewan in response the Saskatchewan’s Emergency Management and Fire Safety request for additional resources. Global News Canada reported that on Thursday afternoon, Daryl Jessop, director of internal support, Ministry of Environment told reporters the weather has contributed to the fires. Other provinces have contributed firefighters and equipment, and Roberts said a crew from South Dakota was on its way to Saskatchewan on Wednesday. The weekend is expected to bring some rain which will help firefighters.

The haze is smoke from large wildfires burning in Alaska and Canada, pumping into the USA for the second time in less than a month.

High resolution satellite images not only picked up the smoke from the fires but the heat from the fires as well. The Government of Saskatchewan says individuals have been going to wildfire areas to capture photos and video, and these people are hampering suppression efforts.

On Saturday, the Environmental Protection Agency listed air quality in the Fargo-Moorhead area as some of the worst in the nation because of smoke drifting from the Canadian fires.

Saskatchewan wildfires have prompted evacuations and an air quality alert. People with respiratory problems, the very young and the elderly should be closely monitored.