Out-of-control wildfire in northeastern Alberta believed to be 67 hectares

A wildfire is burning out of control in northeastern Alberta, approximately 4.5 kilometres east of Saprae Creek Estates in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

A wildfire is burning out of control in northeastern Alberta, approximately 4.5 kilometres east of Saprae Creek Estates in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

The fire is approximately 67 hectares in size, according to Alberta Wildfire, which is about 166 acres.

An Alberta evacuation alert that was issued Sunday afternoon remains in place for Saprae Creek Estates due to the potential of the wildfire spreading towards the community.

That means residents in that community must be prepared to leave on short notice.

In an update Monday, the municipality said Alberta Wildfire has prioritized the wildfire, officially named MWF-012, with aerial and ground resources.

Alberta Wildfire officials said, as of Monday morning, there were four firefighting crews, six helicopters, two airtanker groups, and five heavy equipment groups working on the MWF-012 wildfire.

On Sunday, crews worked on strengthening the fire guard along the western flank of the fire, with the goal of containing and then controlling it.

On Sunday night, a night visibility helicopter allowed “bucketing on the wildfire into the early morning which helped to slow fire growth,” Alberta Wildfire said in an update Monday. “We plan to have the night visibility helicopter bucketing on the wildfire tonight again as well, as long as conditions permit.”