This screengrab form Alberta Emergency Alert shows the area of the fire north of Hilda. The hamlet is in the northern part of the highlighted Cypress County.
The grass and wild fire north of Hilda that broke out this afternoon is now moving toward the hamlet.
The Alberta Emergency Alert system advises the residents of Hilda to evacuate immediately. Residents should go to the emergency reception center in the hamlet of Schuler.
North of that, in Special Area No. 2, a fire is threatening the Empress community. Residents of the village of Empress and the surrounding area are requested to evacuate immediately to the Bindloss community hall and register there.
As of 7 p.m. Hwy 41 in the Hilda area remains closed to traffic in both directions as the fire continues to impact the area between Township Roads 180 and 190 on both sides of the highway north of Hilda.
Heavy smoke is reducing visibility and creating hazardous driving conditions.
Throughout the afternoon and into the evening the fire spread in a northeast direction, prompting an evacuation order by the Town of Burstall and for the southern half of RM of Deerforks #232 in Saskatchewan. That province’s emergency alert system advises that if the wind changes direction it is possible RM 142 as well as the Village of Richmound could be in danger as well. An evacuation order was put in place for the town of Leader at about 6:45 p.m.
Earlier in the day Prairie Rose School Division has advised that bus routes 103 and 104 will not be running this afternoon due to the fire. Parents are asked tomake alternate arrangements.
