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The Shaw fire sits just 9km south of Buffalo Narrows, prompting evacuation notices and a local state of emergency. (Jr Gerald G Glasser/Facebook
Wildfire

Buffalo Narrows declares state of emergency, issues evacuation notices for some residents due to wildfire

May 14, 2023 | 2:55 PM

UPDATE: Power to the village has been cut off due to powerlines in the area catching fire. Meanwhile, Highway 155 has been shut down for up to six hours as the fire once again jumped the road in a separate spot 9 km south of where the fire made its first jump.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

An approaching wildfire threatening the community of Buffalo Narrows has forced the village to issue a state of emergency and evacuate some of its residents.

According to NASA, the fire was reported as just under 10,000 hectares in size a little over 24 hours ago but it’s since grown to over 25,000 hectares. The fire is continuing to spread at an incredible rate, having jumped Highway 155 earlier Sunday morning heading east. The fire sits 9 km south of the community.

In a release from the village, Mayor Sandy Ericson issued a level one evacuation for residents with chronic health conditions and elders, and a level two evacuation for pregnant women and children under the age of two.

Busses began to evacuate people to Lloydminster from the town at around 2:00 p.m. Sunday while residents also had the option to evacuate on their own.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann

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