The haze appears to be dissipating but an air quality warning remained in effect for the Edmonton region Friday evening.

Alberta Health Services continued to urge people with respiratory issues to stay inside, likely through the weekend. Healthy people are urged to avoid strenuous activity outdoors.

The situation has raised questions about the effectiveness of air quality monitoring systems in the province.

Environment officials with the provincial government suggest there needs to be improvements to the current monitoring system.

Bob Myrick, with Alberta Environment, says the equipment is becoming outdated and more tools are needed.

"As our population grows and as our industry base grows, we will have more monitoring stations in the future," said Myrick.

Air quality readings across the capital region since Thursday have ranged from poor to fair. At one point the air quality index reading in downtown Edmonton was 235, which is classified as very poor. By Friday, the skies were starting to clear and the air quality in the city improved to fair.

Smoke from more than 300 wildfires in B.C. and northern Alberta created the thick haze across the province. There was a rash of calls to 911 as people feared fires were burning much closer to them.

The smoky air may also be to blame for causing a breakdown in the equipment at the air monitoring station in Fort Saskatchewan.

"I've lived in Fort Saskatchewan for 20 years and I've never experienced it to this degree," said Gale Katchur, describing the thick haze blanketing her neighbourhood.

All the concern is adding to pressure on the province to upgrade the monitoring stations.

"An event like this definitely brings air quality more into the public eye and we are certainly getting a lot of questions about the air quality index, " said Myrick.

The current system was created in the 1970s. Improvements would result in more accurate information delivered in a more efficient manner.

Officials say it could also better predict when problems may arise.

"It actually involves an air quality forecast as well so you can get an idea a couple of days, or a day in advance, what conditions are going to be like," explained Myrick.

To check current air quality information visit the Alberta Environment's website or call 1-877-247-7333.

The smoke tracking system can also be viewed online by clicking here.

With files from CTV's Sean Amato.