Nearly a thousand residents have evacuated a northern Alberta First Nation due to an out-of-control wildfire.
A provincial alert says a blaze is burning about 8.5 kilometres north of Highway 58, which is adjacent to Little Red River Cree Nation.
The government says 981 residents of the First Nation left Wednesday evening to find shelter in the settlement of John D’Or Prairie and hotels in other northern towns.
The wildfire, which is burning across 41,000 hectares, isn’t threatening to reach the community.
An evacuation order issued Wednesday remains in effect for the 700 residents of Garden River, a community about 30 kilometres northwest of the same wildfire affecting Little Red River Cree Nation.
The government says Garden River was not in immediate danger but there were concerns the fire could cut off access to Highway 58, the only road out of the community.
The government says 92 active wildfires are burning in Alberta’s forest protection area, a region spanning from the southern Rocky Mountains into the north.
The province has issued a fire ban for the area.
Municipalities and federal lands, including national parks, are exempt from the ban but may issue their own.
The Canadian Press
