Work continues to slow and stop wildfires from burning in Northern Alberta.
Bigstone Cree Nation, which includes the communities of Calling Lake, Chipewyan Lake, and Wabasca, said in a Tuesday update on social media that aerial assessments showed 38 buildings were destroyed, including the Health Centre and the Chipewyan Lake water treatment plant.
Fire burst through the area in just hours, which is made up of at least nine wildfires burning out of control in the Slave Lake Forest Area.
Four of those fires cover 2,463 square-kilometres in their entirety. Red Earth Creek, Trout Lake and Peerless Lake, and Loon River First Nation were also evacuated. Bigstone Cree Nation said it is working to secure temporary housing for evacuated residents in Wabasca, and will be asking the provincial and federal governments for help in rebuilding the community.
So far this year, there have been 504 wildfires and more than 490,000 hectares have burned.
Fire bans remained in effect in the High Level, Fort McMurray, Whitecourt, Peace River, Slave Lake, Grande Prairie, Edson, and La la Biche forest areas.
Environment Canada has issued warnings and special air quality statements due to wildfire smoke. Meteorologists say the smoke is causing very poor air quality and reduced visibility, and conditions can vary hour by hour.
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