Wildfire evacuation order issued for county northwest of Edmonton

An evacuation order was issued for Woodlands County near Whitecourt due to an out-of-control wildfire.

An evacuation order has been issued for residents of Woodlands County due to an out-of-control wildfire burning in the area.

Alberta Wildfire sent out the emergency alert at 5:10 p.m. Monday.

The alert says the affected area is east of Range Road 114 and south of Highway 43, including the West Ridge subdivision.

All residents in the affected area are asked to gather their pets, important documentation and medications and evacuate immediately.

Those fleeing are instructed to register at the evacuation reception centre at the Allan and Jean Millar Centre in Whitecourt.

There are about 30 homes in the affected area, said Whitecourt Mayor Ray Wilts in a brief phone interview.

No evacuation alert has been issued for the town of about 10,000 people, but residents are encouraged to be prepared.

Taeven Keylor was waiting at a gas station near the evacuation zone to see if anyone needed help leaving the area.

“The fire is about 10 kilometres east of Whitecourt,” said Keylor in an interview with CTV News Edmonton. “There is a pile of water bombers and everything going around trying to put this fire out.”

He said he could see large plumes of smoke and high winds.

“There is a bit of panic from people just wondering what’s going on, which way the fire is moving, and if Whitecourt will have to evacuate.”

Woodlands County is about 150 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson and Miriam Valdes-Carletti