An out-of-control wildfire in the area of Lindale, Alberta has forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
Brazeau County Fire Services spotted the fire around 3 p.m. Wednesday near Range Road 55 and Township Road 500. By 6:24 p.m., the fire had jumped TWP 500; less than three hours later, it had doubled in size from about 17 hectares to 36 hectares.
Heavy winds have been fuelling the fire. As a result, Brazeau County officials have delivered approximately 200 evacuation orders to the residents in the immediate area; and about another 200 residents of the nearby Birchwood area have been placed on a one-hour evacuation alert.
UPDATE: As of 9 p.m., residents who live along TWP 500, east of HWY 759 to RR 55 remain evacuated, as do residents who live along RR 60 and RR 55, north of TWP Rd 494 to TWP 502.
Residents who access their property by way of driveway off HWY 759 and/or TWP 494 will be permitted to return to their residence, subject to a one-hour evacuation notice.
The Birchwood area still remains on an evacuation notice as a precautionary measure.
Evacuees are being held at the MacKenzie Centre in Drayton Valley, and can call 780-898-3598 for more information. A team of Red Cross volunteers has also set up a shelter in Drayton Valley to help some of those who have been evacuated. It’s located at the town’s Omniplex.
Those in the area should also be aware that there is a road blockage at Highway 759 between Township Road 494 and 500.
Drayton Valley/Brazeau County Fire Services and three helicopters have been battling the fire. Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) has also dispatched three, eight-man ground crew to support the fire crews.
At this point, only one outbuilding has been lost in the wildfire.
“They are making good headway, but weather conditions are playing havoc on the fire,” said Wanda Compton of Brazeau County.
It’s the second forest fire the county has had to battle. Residents in Lodgepole, 55 kilometres southwest of Lindale, returned to their homes a week ago after a fire threatened their community.
Compton said that the Lindale fire is “looking a lot better than what we had in Lodgepole.”
The wildfire danger in many parts of Alberta is listed as high to extreme due to bone-dry conditions, coupled with strong, gusty winds.
For more information on other wildfires in Alberta, you can visit the ESRD website.
With files from The Canadian Press
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