About 140 people have left their homes due to an out-of-control wildfire northwest of Edmonton.
An evacuation order was issued Monday afternoon for residents in part of Woodlands County south of Whitecourt.
Reeve Dave Kusch said Tuesday the fire is burning southeast of the town and firefighters from multiple communities are tackling the blaze.
The fire appears to have shrunk but it’s unclear whether it has damaged any homes, he said.
Residents have been asked to gather their pets, documents and medications and report to a community centre in Whitecourt.
“For anybody who has been impacted, the county is working on hotel vouchers and meal coupons for individuals,” Kusch said.
The Alberta government said in a statement the fire was about 51 hectares in size and moving away from Whitecourt.
Whitecourt’s mayor says it’s unclear when residents would be able to return home.
“It caught a lot of people off guard, unable to get to their homes, pack or secure anything valuable,” Ray Hilts said. “We’ll do what we can to make it easier for these folks that have been displaced.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2026.