Updated

Canadian soldiers are arriving to battle raging wildfires on the country's west coast, where about 13,000 people have been evacuated in recent days.

Premier Brad Wall says it is the biggest evacuation effort in Saskatchewan's history.

Colin King, deputy commissioner of operations with Saskatchewan's emergency management department, says 1,000 military personnel are arriving from Manitoba and Alberta.

King says the fire situation is "critical," adding that people evacuated from more than 50 communities won't be returning soon.

Environment Canada has issued air quality warnings for much of Saskatchewan and parts of Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, due to wildfires burning across Canada's western and central regions.

More than 110 fires are burning in Saskatchewan alone.