La Loche, Sask. still reeling after heavy smoke last night

It's a sight people in La Loche, Sask. won't soon forget.

Last night, smoke from nearby forest fires flooded into the northern village, blocking out the sun.

"It was a little freaky last night," said Leanne Gailey, assistant principal of the town's elementary school. "It was pitch black by about seven o'clock."

The village is located roughly 100 kilometres east of Fort McMurray, the site of a massive forest fire.

• Fort McMurray wildfire expands into Saskatchewan

While the smoke has cleared today thanks to shifting winds, the community has had to adapt. Cultural camps scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled, due to air quality concerns.

"Obviously, they see a difference, because we're not doing as much physical activity as we usually would in the school," Gailey said. "Our kids are a lot hotter, drinking a lot more water than they normally would."

While La Loche is not in immediate danger of a fire, the community has posted a pre-evacuation checklist in the village office, in case people with lung conditions need to be sent away from the community.