REGINA - The wildfire situation in northern Saskatchewan is again having an impact on air quality in other parts of the province.
Southern Saskatchewan was having a particularly hazy, smoky summer day, with Environment Canada estimating air quality in Regina to be at 10 - High Risk until about 7 p.m. this evening.
That would be the type of number that would postpone a Saskatchewan Roughriders CFL game, though fortunately for the Roughriders they are not scheduled to play today.
It is expected the air quality in Regina will improve down to a 6 - Moderate risk by 2 a.m. Tuesday, July 29. The air quality is expected to improve even more to Low Risk throughout the day on Tuesday.
On the IQAir index on Monday, Regina ranked second-worst among Saskatchewan cities at 144, with Melville topping the list at 151.
The worst air quality was seen in the province’s northeast, in closest proximity to the wildfires that are occurring in Saskatchewan and also Manitoba.
On the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency website, an Advisory Alert for air quality was issued for Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, and numerous Rural Municipalities in the province’s eastern portion.
As for the SPSA update for July 28, they report 60 active wildfires. Six are contained, 12 not contained, 23 are ongoing assessment and 19 are protecting values. There are 404 fires to date compared to the five year average of 328.
11 communities are under evacuation: Resort Subdivision of Lac La Plonge; La Plonge Reserve; Northern Village of Beauval; Northern Hamlet of Jans Bay; Resort Subdivision of Ramsey Bay; Patuanak/English River First Nation; Montreal Lake Cree Nation; Northern Village of Pinehouse; Canoe Lake Cree First Nation/Canoe Narrows; Île-à-la-Crosse; Resort Subdivision of Cole Bay; and Resort Subdivision of Little Amyot Lake.
In their afternoon update, SPSA is reporting that the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program is extending all deadlines to submit claim costs by one year. According to SPSA: Individual's applications are required to be submitted within six months of the disaster, but afterwards an extension for a PDAP applicant's claim costs will provide one additional year from the original date of expiration. This would be for such items as temporary displacement costs, according to their news release.
"After a disaster, households have a lot to manage and take care of as they work through recovery," SPSA President Marlo Pritchard said in a news release. "The Recovery Task Team will continue to look for ways to support and take some of that pressure off of the communities and their residents."
PDAP also encourages those applying to submit their PDAP application even if incomplete, or the resident is still working with their direct insurer. More information can be found at www.saskpublicsafety.ca/pdap or call 1-866-632-4033, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
SPSA also is reporting the Recovery Task Team is making additional progress with communities, local leaders and impacted residents. One of the major tasks has ben debris removal and cleanup. SPSA is reporting that cleanup to clear lots began in Denare Beach on July 23, which is considered an important milestone to returning properties to a building-ready state.
SGI has also removed around 230 vehicles from Denare Beach that were lost to wildfire. As well, Denare Beach Community Resiliency Centre has had over 70 individuals seeking information on insurance, PDAP, social or mental health services.
