Smoke clouds northern Alberta as wildfires burn near Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie

Air quality in much of northern Alberta worsened overnight, as wildfires burn near Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's air quality health index calculates how safe the air is for one's health.

On Saturday, the index shows wildfire smoke has created "very high risk" levels in Grande Prairie, Peace River, Fort McMurray and the Edmonton metropolitan area.

There were 53 total active wildfires burning throughout the province as of 1 p.m. MT Saturday, including three deemed out of control, according to Alberta Wildfire.

An out-of-control fire burning southwest of Fort McMurray, which started Thursday, has grown to about 1,500 hectares. Melissa Story, a spokesperson with Alberta Wildfire, said windy and hot conditions fuelled the fire Friday.

"It grew pretty significantly yesterday and we are back in action today," Story said Saturday

Firefighters are trying to create a containment line on the fire's east side, which will act as a guard for Fort McMurray, she said.

Winds are expected to die down this afternoon, she added.

An evacuation alert was issued Friday night for Fort McMurray and Saprae Creek, in northeastern Alberta — meaning residents should be prepared to evacuate. The alert remains in place. 

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo issued an additional evacuation alert around 3 p.m. Saturday for Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation #468 and Anzac.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo posted on social media Saturday afternoon they anticipate Highway 63 will be impacted by wildfire activity later in the day, resulting in a temporary closure south of the Highway 63 and 881 junction.

It is not believed Highway 881 will be immediately impacted, meaning access to Fort McMurray will not be impeded.

In Grande Prairie County, in northwest Alberta, another out-of-control wildfire is burning about 14 kilometres north of Valhalla, Alta. Story said it's estimated to be 130 hectares.

"We do have crews on the ground that are looking to enforce the containment lines that were done overnight," she said, adding that firefighters worked around the clock with heavy equipment to try to build a fire guard.