About 75 people in the rural municipality of Frenchman Butte, near Lloydminster, have been forced from their homes because of wild fires.

The houses remain untouched, but there has been intense smoke in the area.

Three volunteer fire departments and the ministry of environment are working day and night to keep the fires under control.

Water bombers are being used to douse the flames while crews work on hotspots on the ground.

Residents forced to leave the area are staying with relatives, officials said Wednesday.

The area has been in a state of emergency since Sunday.