Evacuation order issued for subdivision near Prince Albert

Residents in the Berg subdivision within the Rural Municipality of Garden River near Prince Albert are being ordered to immediately evacuate due to the Cloverdale fire.

An emergency alert issued shortly after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday said the fire is fast-moving.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the fire was 5,000 hectares in size as of 9:30 Wednesday morning.

Individuals who can self-evacuate and find their own accommodations must use Highway 2 South, and proceed to the Margo Fournier Centre at 1211 First Ave. W. and register.

Ryan Scragg, reeve for the RM of Garden River, told paNOW the evacuation order affects around eight homes in the area.

“Right now it’s out of an abundance of caution,” Scragg said. “The fire is not there at this moment but it could be with the direction the winds are changing to today.”

RM residents living within two kilometres of the forest boundary have also been placed on alert.

“We advise any residents within two miles of the forest boundary that they should be prepared for evacuation out of an abundance of caution,” Scragg said.

Environment Canada was calling for increasing clouds Wednesday and a high of 9 C; however, winds were expected to gust from 30 to 50 kilometres per hour.