A second evacuation order was issued overnight for a region near Grande Prairie due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Shortly after 12 a.m. Saturday, an emergency alert was issued for the Municipal District of Greenview.
The alert stated the wildfire was burning north of Highway 43, west of Range Road 21 and had jumped the Smokey River.
The alert said residents in the North Goodwin area west of Range Road 21, between Township Road 734 and Township Road 741 were to evacuate the area and head to the Paradise Inn at 3609 Highway Street, in Valleyview.
Just a few hours earlier, Grande Prairie County No. 1 was also placed under an evacuation order due to the same fire.
That alert was issued shortly after 10 p.m. Friday night.
The alert stated the wildfire was burning about four kilometres east of Teepee Creek, at approximately Range Road 31 and Township Road 740. The fire was moving away from the community, according to the government of Alberta.
As of 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, the fire remained out of control and had grown to over 1300 hectares, according to an update posted on the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 website.
The update said the structural protection was being done on three homes in the area, but that no structures had been damaged.
The county said it was working with Alberta Wildfire crews to build fire guards, using heavy equipment.
“Fire behaviour is expected to be active but spread rates will be significantly lessened due to the lack of winds. Today crews and heavy equipment will be on the ground to limit spread of the north and south flank,” the update said.
An evacuation order remains in place for Kleskun Creek North to Township Road 742. The evacuation order also includes Riverstone Golf Course.
Alberta Wildfire said firefighters and heavy equipment were on scene, and that aircraft were supporting the wildfire fight alongside the municipal fire department.
Everyone is urged to travel north to Township Road 742 and West onto Highway 733 and register at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre located at 11633 100 St, Grande Prairie.
Everyone should bring pets, important documents, medication, medical devices, food and water for at least seven days.
Updates can be accessed at the Alberta Emergency Alert website.
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