EDMONTON- Two wildfires have forced the evacuation of two communities in our province.
An evacuation order has been issued for the hamlet of Nordegg and area, and Lodgepole in Brazeau County, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday evening.
People in Nordegg are being asked to leave immediately. Residents are being guided to the curling rink in Rocky Mountain House, located at 5332- 50th Street. Evacuees must register at the rink or online, at www.clearwatercounty.ca.
The fire near Nordegg, which is 200 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, has been burning for a number of days and residents had been on a one-hour evacuation notice since Thursday.
Duncan MacDonnell with Alberta Sustainable Resource Development says crews had the fire contained, but he says officials were poised to issue an evacuation order if the blaze had broken through any one of those containment points.
Rural areas of Brazeau County are also being evacuated, due to a wildfire burning about three kilometres west of Lodgepole, Alberta.
County officials say the Lodgepole fire is about 250 hectares in size and is considered out of control. Residents are required to evacuate immediately. However, officials say Drayton Valley residents are not affected.
An employee in the Brazeau County office said most of the people in Lodgepole left the community earlier on Sunday.
Provincial Wildfire Information Officer Richard Horne said 50 firefighters, helicopters and tankers were already on the scene and that additional resources were on the way.
Evacuees are being asked to report to the Omniplex in Drayton Valley, located at 5737- 45th Avenue.
The following picture of that wildfire was provided by a viewer:
Alberta issued a fire weather advisory for the province earlier Sunday, saying that high winds and dry temperatures made the likelihood of uncontrolled wildfires high.
For up to date evacuation notices and wildfire conditions, visit Alberta Emergency Alert’s website.
With files from The Canadian Press.