Lac La Biche County has opened an evacuation centre for evacuees from Athabasca County who have been directed to leave their homes as a wildfire continues to burn out of control south of Boyle, between Boyle Fishpond and the Ellscott turnoff.
Evacuees are being directed to travel north along Highway 63 and 55 towards Lac La Biche to the reception centre at Parkland Motels at 10710-101 Ave. in Lac La Biche.
This evacuation order is in effect for everyone east of Range Road 194 and South of Township 644 in Athabasca County. Everyone east of Range Road 195 and South of Township 650 should be prepared to evacuate if notified.
Athabasca County and the Village of Boyle have declared a local state of emergency with the Village of Boyle under an evacuation alert. Residents are being asked to be prepared and to pack a bag for the next 72 hours.
Fires burning north of Highway 55
Additionally, two out of control wildfires in the Lakeland region are being reported in the Lac La Biche Forest Protection area north of Highway 55.
The first is located between RR 124 and RR 125 and encompassing about 25 hectares as of 5:30 p.m. May 6. A second out of control fire is burning south of Barbara Lake (north of Iron River) and is about two hectares in size, according to information on the Alberta Wildfire status map.
The cause of both fires is under investigation.
The fire rating continues to be extreme in the forest protection area.
