LAC LA BICHE - A blanket of smoke from forest fires in northern Alberta continued to be an issue in and around the Lac La Biche area on Wednesday, affecting air quality and visibility. The northeastern Alberta community is more than 100 kilometres from the nearest forest fire, that one burning northwest of the Wandering River area.
The Lac La Biche Airport continued to operate through the most recent smoke-screen with runway lights still visible through the afternoon haze.
Air quality readings from Alberta's Air Quality Health Index on Wednesday afternoon were at the maximum number of 10. Other areas in the region, including the Conklin and Janvier areas where new wildfires are currently burning out of control, were also at the maximum levels.
In recent days, some evacuees from the Janvier area, 200 kilometres north of Lac La Biche, have been moved to the community as a precaution as firefighters work on the northern fires.
The smoke is expected to be in the area for the next several days.
