An additional 12,000 people in northwest Alberta have been placed on evacuation alert as an out-of-control wildfire in the area grows.

While central Alberta is under a rainfall warning, thousands of people in Mackenzie County in northern Alberta are being evacuated from their homes in the face of aggressive and growing wildfires. 

An out-of-control wildfire burning near a town in northwestern Alberta is at the highest possible danger and expected to increase this week.

Weather conditions continue to challenge firefighters battling the gigantic Chuckegg Creek blaze a few kilometres southwest of High Level, Alberta.

Air quality in Calgary remains poor as wildfire smoke blankets the city. The situation is expected to last through the long weekend.