Canadian wildfires source of regional smoke

Dense smoke from wildfires in northern Alberta, Canada, arrived in Montana overnight Thursday, according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

The department reported varied impacts on air quality, ranging from “unhealthy” in Helena to “moderate” in Columbia Falls.

“The good news is the transport wind direction over the fires is shifting, cutting off the flow of smoke down from Canada,” the department noted.

Smoke will likely persist through Friday but should improve as daytime heating lifts the smoke higher into the air, DEQ said.

Overall, air quality along the Rocky Mountain Front will likely remain “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” possibly improving to “moderate” by late afternoon.

“Areas west of the divide will like fare better, with the mountains acting to block some of the smoke,” the department said.

The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System reported there are three priority fires in Alberta and that the fires, or portions thereof, continue to burn out of control. Evacuation orders are in place for the town of High Level.

The system reported that “dry conditions prevail in most of western Canada.”