Lac La Biche has opened an evacuation centre at Parkland Motels for residents of Athabasca country forced to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire burning south of Boyle, between Boyle Fishpond and the Ellscott turnoff.
The evacuation order applies to everyone east of Range Road 194 and south of Township Road 644, while those east of Range Road 195 and south of Township Road 650 are being told to be ready to leave if conditions worsen.
Evacuees are being directed north along Highways 63 and 55 to Lac La Biche.
Athabasca county and the Village of Boyle have declared a local state of emergency. Boyle remains under an evacuation alert, and residents are urged to be prepared with a 72-hour emergency kit.
Two additional wildfires are burning out of control in the Lac La Biche Forest Protection Area north of Highway 55.
One blaze, about 25 hectares in size, is located between Range Roads 124 and 125 as of 5:30 p.m. on May 6. A second, smaller fire south of Barbara Lake north of Iron River is estimated at two hectares according to information on the Alberta Wildfire status map. Both fires are under investigation.
The wildfire danger in the region remains extreme.
