Evacuation notice issued after new, out-of-control fire in Alberta | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Evacuation notice issued after new, out-of-control fire in Alberta

Original Publication Date May 16, 2016 - 4:50 AM

FOX CREEK, Alta. - An out-of-control wildfire is forcing people from their homes in a rural and farm region northwest of Edmonton.

The Municipal District of Greenview has ordered the mandatory evacuation of people who live south of the hamlet of Little Smoky.

"It is rural agriculture areas," Diane Carter, a spokeswoman for the municipal district, said Monday.

"The town of Fox Creek is not impacted. The hamlet of Little Smoky is also not impacted yet, but if necessary we will put them on a one-hour evacuation notice."

The fire was burning away from communities, about 270 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Highway 43, the major road link in the area, remained open.

There were no reports of homes being destroyed.

Carter said it was not immediately clear how many people have left their homes.

She said some farmers in the region are concerned about leaving their livestock.

"Sometime there is hesitation to evacuate if their animals may be affected," she said.

Evacuees were being urged to register in Valleyview.

Large animals and outside pets were being cared for at the Valleyview Agricultural Grounds.

The municipal district declared a local state of emergency Sunday.

The temperature is expected to rise through the week, with rain not expected until Wednesday.

The emergency comes about two weeks after a wildfire ripped into Fort McMurray, destroyed about 2,400 structures and forced more than 80,000 people from the city.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016
The Canadian Press

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