Wildfire west of Edmonton triggers overnight evacuation to Tomahawk community centre

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A growing wildfire triggered a mandatory evacuation order just after midnight Friday sending dozens of rural residents just west of Edmonton scrambling to the community centre in the tiny hamlet of Tomahawk.

The evacuation order, first issued by Parkland County at 12:38 a.m. then updated at 1:36 a.m., telling residents to “leave immediately” due to wildfire, is for the area roughly 100 kilometres west of Edmonton, between Highway 22 and Range Road 63 and between Township Road 510 and 524.

An earlier province-wide emergency alert was issued just before 9 p.m. Thursday as the wildfire that started around 4:30 p.m., aided by gusting winds, rapidly grew.

The Friday evacuation order says evacuees must register at the Tomahawk and District Sports Agrena, and bring “identification, medication, blankets, sleeping bags, personal items, important documents, household pets and pet care items if possible.”

Alberta Wildfire crews, including air tankers, are working to contain the fire.

More to come.