Haze over northern Manitoba comes all the way from B.C.

Smoke from B.C.'s wildfires is swirling over parts of northern Manitoba.

A warm front held on to the smoke all the way to the Churchill and Gillam area, Environment Canada meteorologist RobynDycksaid. With highs of almost 30 C in the area, the haze reduced visibility in Churchill.

B.C. is grappling with its worst fire season in 60 years.

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The warm air mass remained largely unchanged as the smoke from B.C. is carried across the country.

"How does it hold that characteristic from B.C.? Like in B.C., the smoke is quite significant, whereas as it progresses further east it does lose some of that characteristic, so it's not as significant as what's going on in B.C.," Dycksaid.

A cold front heading down from the north is beginning to push the smoke out over Hudson's Bay. The smoke should clear by Monday.

Lightning fires in north

Lightning is blamed for starting 19 fires in Manitoba in just 24 hours this weekend.

According to a provincial spokesperson, firefighters and aircraft are currently battling 44 forest fires across Manitoba.

Another 44 fires are being watched or have "limited action," the spokesperson said.

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Only four of those are out of control. They're all small fires, less than onehectare in size, in theFlinFlonarea, near Clearwater Lake,WekuskoLake, File Lake andHargraveLake. However, several large fires still burning are being monitored by the province.

Among the largest is an 800-hectare fire inWapuskNational Park.

There are currently 120 firefighters, six water bombers, and 15 helicopters committed to wildfire response, the spokesperson said.

There have been 282 fires to date in Manitoba, a below-average number. Most were caused by lightning.

In June, Environment Canada warned that hot, dry and windy weather has elevated the wildfire danger levels in many areas of Manitoba.

This week, the province banned open burningwithout a permit and said that campfires shouldonly be made in designated fire pits to be safe. Officials suggested using portable stoves while camping instead of lighting a fire to cook.