Article content continued

UPDATE: Hwy63 approx. 12km north of Atmore - SB lanes open, NB open to one lane. Fire Crews still on scene. Expect delays (9:04pm) #ABRoads — 511 Alberta (@511Alberta) April 19, 2016

Firefighters were battling the blaze near Atmore, 250 kilometres south of the city, the release said.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of students and staff at Kisipatnahk School in Maskwacis were evacuated after a large grass fire threatened the school.

Maskwacis RCMP said fire crews initially arrived on scene at around 11 a.m. Shortly after, fire departments from the four neighbouring First Nations communities — Louis Bull, Ermineskin, Montana and Samson First Nation — as well as fire crews from Wetaskiwin and Ponoka, were called in to help.

RCMP Const. Dan Meredith said about 250 students and staff members were evacuated at around 11:40 a.m. as a precaution, as well as people from 40 nearby homes.

“Initially, the way the path of the fire was heading, it looked like it was going to overtake the school and head into the townsite where all the residents are located,” said Meredith, blaming high winds and extremely dry conditions as contributing factors. “The fire did eventually end up jumping the road and wound up skirting to the left, right beside the school.”

Despite the close call, the school was not damaged. RCMP said an abandoned home was damaged.

The fire was declared under control by 2:30 p.m. Students were initially allowed to go back into the school, but then everyone was sent home for the rest of the day. Students were expected to return Tuesday.

Fire crews remained on the scene Monday afternoon, dousing hot spots. Investigators were working to determine the cause of the fire.