By The Canadian Press

Troublesome wildfires break out in southwest Saskatchewan

Apr 23, 2019 | 7:25 AM

BIGGAR, Sask. — Wildfire smoke and concerns about air quality have sparked a large community and surrounding area in west-central Saskatchewan to declare a state of emergency

The Town of Biggar and Rural Municipality of Biggar declared the emergency overnight because of a massive grassfire southwest of the town that the RCMP declared out of control Monday afternoon.

Officials evacuated a wide area as a precaution and set up a shelter in the Biggar Community Hall for people with respiratory issues.

Firefighters are concentrating on an area between highways 4 and 51 and Tower and Duperow Roads.

Farmers in the affected area have been creating fire breaks to stop the advancing flames, but in numerous cases the blaze has jumped the barriers.

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Troublesome wildfires have also flared up in the Saskatoon region and near the community of Holbein, between Prince Albert and Shellbrook.