An emergency evacuation has been ordered for the town of Burstall, Sask. and the Regional Municipality of Deerforks due to a fire burning south of the Alberta border town.

With winds gusting towards the northeast at 85 km/h around mid-afternoon an emergency alert said the wildfire had the potential to cause emergency situations for the public.

The province’s Emergency Management and Fire Safety Rapid Response Team is on site helping local fire departments with the grass fire and the evacuation. 

Residents in Burstall and the south part of the R.M. of Deerforks are being told to evacuate the area and go north towards Leader about 53 km to the northeast.

Officials and residents in Leader were preparing to receive evacuees Tuesday afternoon.  The towns community centre was open, but they were exploring other shelter options.

Burstall has a population of just over 300.   

There are fires effecting other areas as well.  Residents of a neighbourhood in Airdrie Alberta north of Calgary and near the town of Coleman in the Crowsnest Pass have been told to leave as a precaution.

The hamlet of Hilda about 50 kilometres northeast of Medicine Hat has also been told to prepare for possible evacuation.