Police say heavy wildfire smoke initially prevented an air ambulance from landing at the site of a fatal motorcycle crash in southern Alberta. At 11:30 a.m., Cochrane and Turner Valley RCMP responded to the crash site on Highway 40, approximately 13 kilometres north of Highway 541 — or between the trailheads for Cat Creek or Pickle Jar Lakes trails. Police had said due to the remote location, information about the crash was initially limited and that heavy wildfire smoke had initially prevented STARS air ambulance from landing safely at the location. Most of Alberta, including the site of the crash, was under a special air quality statement due to wildfire smoke. The air quality health index was forecasted to hit seven, or high risk, on Sunday.

Source: CBC News August 15, 2021 20:04 UTC