The mayor of Thompson, Man., says she’s optimistic about her city’s battle against another encroaching wildfire.

Colleen Smook told 680 CJOB’s Connecting Winnipeg that the heavy smoke that cloaked the northern city over the long weekend had dissipated — somewhat — by Tuesday, and that aerial crews are back in action, tackling nearby blazes from above.

“Saturday was just terrible, Sunday it improved… yesterday we had a bit of smoke,” she said.

“Today, it is a touch of smoke, but basically the sun is shining through there — there is smoke in the area, but very little as compared to the other day.”

Smook said aerial firefighting crews had to be grounded while evacuees from nearby Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation fled to Winnipeg via the local airport.

Thompson itself has not been evacuated

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