Wildfire west of Claresholm prompts evacuation
Posted Oct 25, 2017 12:03 pm.
Last Updated Oct 25, 2017 6:36 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A wildfire in the M.D. of Ranchland west of Claresholm has led to an evacuation order.
Residents who live west of Highway 22 along Chimney Rock Road to Highway 533 near Chain Lakes Provincial Park are being told to get out of their homes as the fire is fueled by winds as high as 100 km/hr.
The fire is spreading in a forested area due to high winds, not far from homes.
Wildfire Information Officer Travis Fairweather said it’s unclear how long it will take to contain it.
“Certainly with the wind and the current status of the fire being out of control, we have no estimate at this time,” he said Wednesday afternoon.
The province says on nearby Highway 22, south of Chain Lakes, visibility is poor due to the smoke.
About three dozen firefighters and three helicopters have been working to bring the fire, which has closed Highway 22 in the area, under control.
It’s unknown how many people may be affected by the evacuation, but a person at the municipal district office says only about 100 people live in the area.
Just over a week ago, wildfires whipped by strong winds destroyed a number of homes in southern Alberta, including one near Airdrie, along with others in Gleichen and on the Siksika First Nation.
A volunteer firefighter from Alberta was killed when his water truck rolled while battling a blaze that straddled the border with Saskatchewan.
