Wildfire evacuation issued for county northwest of Edmonton

A local state of emergency was declared in Barrhead due to a wildfire. Residents in the Thunder Lake subdivision must evacuate as flames consume structures.

Residents around Thunder Lake, Alta., are being told to evacuate due to a wildfire.

An alert from Alberta Wildfire says there are structural fires in the Thunder Lake Subdivision, south of the Provincial Park boat launch and about 20 kilometres west of Barrhead County.

A previous alert, which also called for the evacuation of the Summerlea Subdivision, was updated to say homeowners were allowed to return as of 6:57 p.m.

Fire crews had contained the fire as of 6 p.m., according to the county.

The evacuation order was still in place for Thunder Lake.

Evacuees are being instructed to take Highway 18 to Barrhead and register at the county office at 5306 49 St.

Bayley Timm was working in the Summerlea area just before 6 p.m. when she noticed an “enormous black cloud” across the lake.

“There was no smell ... but there were thick black clouds everywhere,” she told CTV News Edmonton.

“The first thought that went through our minds was, ‘Let’s pack up and get out of here, so if there’s any fire crews, we can make sure we’re not in anybody’s way.’”

She and her husband were able to evacuate via back roads as of Thursday evening, but say they have heard Highway 18 was moving slowly.

Barrhead is about 90 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.