A wildfire near Coleman is burning out of control and officials have declared a State of Local Emergency in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.
RCMP and emergency crews are in the area and say about 300 homes are being threatened by the fire.
“Coleman had a fire start earlier today, on the west side of town, and it blew east rapidly on account of the winds, it got into the forest area there as well as inside some of the residential area. I know that approximately three different structures were impacted in Coleman but I haven’t got a total assessment yet on what the total loss has been,” said RCMP Corporal Curtis Peters.
The fire is between the Sentinel Industrial Park and Coleman and residents have been evacuated from Willow Drive, McLaren Ridge, Carbondale Trailer Court and the MacGillivray area.
A reception centre has been established at the Vertical Church in Pincher Creek at 1200 Ken Thorton Blvd. and residents are being asked to register by calling 403-627-9457.
Motorists are being advised to avoid unnecessary travel in the area and police have closed Highway 3 between Coleman and the B.C. boundary.
A wildfire in Cypress County is also being fuelled by the high winds and an alert has been issued for the area.
Officials say the fire is between Township Road 180 and Township Road 190 on both sides of Highway 41 north.
Highway 41 is closed between Hilda and Highway 545.
The fire is spreading and smoke is reducing visibility and creating dangerous road conditions.
Fire crews are working to contain the blaze and residents and farms north and east of the fire and north of Hilda are being advised to prepare for possible evacuation.
