Athabasca County evacuation order issued due to wildfire northeast of town

A wildfire raging northeast of Athabasca has prompted a late-night evacuation of the surrounding county in north-central Alberta.

An Alberta Emergency Alert issued around 11:30 p.m. Thursday said there was a wildfire about 10 kilometres northeast of Athabasca, east of Camping Lake and moving west.

Everyone on Range Road 214 and 215, north of Township Road 674 to the Athabasca River must evacuate now, the province said.

Bring pets, important medication and documents and enough food, water and supplies to be away for three days.

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Evacuees should go to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex. Everyone else in the area between Jackfish Lake and the Athabasca River to the west must prepare for a possible evacuation.

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Dozens of new wildfires were discovered across Alberta amid high temperatures, dangerously dry conditions and high winds on Thursday.

There were many Alberta Emergency Alerts issued and updated throughout the day as the fires grew and threatened more properties.