Parts of Alberta's Sturgeon County remained under a state of local emergency and an evacuation order because of wildfires Friday, meaning people who have homes close to the fires northeast of Edmonton still can't go home.

The evacuation order covers an area bounded by Township Road 570 to Highway 28 and Range Road 224 to Range Road 230.

The fire is under control but is still flaring up in areas, officials said. Three homes were lost in the 1,280-hectare fire earlier this week.

"You can't see any smoke there … unless you're sitting right on top of the little bit that's burning there now, because quite a few of the fires are underground now," said Wayne Bullock, director of infrastructure services for Sturgeon County.

"So basically what they have to do is do an infrared scan and do a thermal imaging with a camera from a helicopter to find out exactly where the hotspots are because they will burn underground for months — and sometimes years. And then all it takes is a bit of wind to flare them up again."

A decrease in wind, an increase in humidity and lower temperatures are helping keep the fire in check, Bullock said.

In Strathcona County, fires remained under control. Crews have set up a perimeter and are trying to put out hotspots, but officials said that could take several weeks. An evacuation order there was lifted Thursday.

On Thursday, Lamont County lifted a state of local emergency. The fire was considered held. There have been no other updates on Friday.