A wildfire that broke out over the weekend northeast of Edmonton grew Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders in two different counties as high winds caused the flames to spread.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued at 2:30 p.m. for parts of Sturgeon County and updated with an expanded evacuation order area just after 6 p.m. It expanded again just after 11 p.m. to include land to the north in Thorhild County.
The evacuation order for Sturgeon County is in effect for people located on Range Road 203 west to Range Road 213 and between Township Road 573 north to Township Road 580.
In Thorhild County, the evacuation order is in effect for everyone located on Range Roads 211 to 214 and Township Roads 580 to 584.
It is due to a wildfire burning directly south of that area, near the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, near Range Roads 211 – 214 and Township Roads 580-584
Those ordered to flee in Sturgeon County were originally asked to head to a reception centre in Redwater to register so they can receive further supports, but that reception centre was later relocated to the Morinville Leisure Centre, 25126 Secondary Highway 642.
Thorhold County residents are being told to evacuate to a reception centre at Thorhild Community Hall, located at 15 – 7th Avenue.
Bring your important documents and medication and prepare to be away from home for at least three days, the counties said.
High fire activity was expected on Tuesday due to winds, the county said in an earlier update. Residents were asked to ensure all gates were unlocked to allow crews to access fields and treed areas.
Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw and fire chief Chad Moore are set to hold an update on the situation Wednesday morning.
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Late Monday night, an evacuation alert was issued for everyone living south of Township Road 580 to the North Saskatchewan River and east of Range Road 212 to the North Saskatchewan River.
They were all told to be prepared to evacuate within an hour’s notice.
A fire ban is in effect for the entire county, along with the towns of Bon Accord, Legal and Redwater.
On Monday, the county confirmed the blaze was caused by an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that caught fire on Saturday, May 3 in a remote part of the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, potentially due to an electrical or mechanical failure.
At least one home — a farmhouse — has been destroyed in the blaze.
While Sturgeon County is leading the fight against the fire, Alberta Wildfire is providing aid. As of Monday night, the fire was estimated to be 408 hectares.
Just north of the fire area, some residents of Thorhild County were told to be ready to evacuate within an hour’s notice.
That evacuation alert was issued Tuesday at 3 p.m. for residents living between Range Road 203 to Range Road 211, and Township Road 580 to Township Road 584.
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