Wildfire burning near Fort McMurray [Video]

Evacuation alerts were issued for multiple Wood Buffalo communities Friday and Saturday, as crews battle an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.

A wildfire burning 16 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city covered 1,492 hectares Saturday afternoon. 

Due to the fire, evacuation alerts for Fort McMurray and the Hamlet of Saprae Creek Estates were issued Friday night. 

Saturday, another alert was issued for Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation #468 and Anzac. Rickards Landing Industrial Park was also put on alert.

Residents should be prepared to evacuate on short notice, keeping medication, important documents and emergency kits ready. Updates can be found on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website. 

Officials said Highway 63 was expected to be impacted by the fire, closing temporarily south of the Highway 63 and 88 junction. Access to Fort McMurray on Highway 881 was not expected to be affected or closed. 

• Complete coverage of the 2024 Alberta wildfire season 

…