BREAKING: Cypress County issues state of emergency after grassfires near Walsh, Irvine | CHAT News Today| Medicine Hat, Southern Alberta


BREAKING: Cypress County issues state of emergency after grassfires near Walsh, Irvine | CHAT News Today| Medicine Hat, Southern Alberta

Heavy winds and tough terran made for challenging conditions for the Graburn Road fire with firefighters and helicopters focusing on a deep coulee approximately 20 kilometers south of Walsh around 7 p.m.

Volunteers from both Saskatchewan and Alberta were at the scene in the area that straddles the border between the two provinces.

According to Alberta Emergency Alert, the first fire is burning around eight kilometres south of Walsh and the Trans-Canada Highway and is travelling in a northeast direction.

The fire is believed to be between Range Road 12A and the Graburn Road and is south of Township Road 110 and north of Township Road 104.

Cypress County Fire is on scene and visibility is being affected due to smoke and high winds in the area.

Anyone living in the area who is required to evacuate has been told to report to the Cypress County offices in Dunmore to receive further instructions in regards to temporary shelter.

A second wildfire is burning around five kilometres west of Irvine and is moving in a westernly direction.

The Trans-Canada Highway outside of Irvine has since been shut down while crews fight the blaze.

We’ll update this story as more information becomes available.


Source link