Alberta community of Peers evacuating due to wildfire in Yellowhead County [Video]

A wildfire west of Edmonton forced the evacuation of a hamlet in Yellowhead County on Thursday night.

The fire is on the west side of Highway 32, one kilometre south of Peers — a rural community of about 100 people located about 150 kilometres west of Edmonton, just north of Highway 16.

The fire was first detected around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and as of publishing, was 15 hectares in size and had crossed Highway 32.

The fire broke out as Alberta Wildfire has a red flag watch in effect: a rarely-heard-of term indicating an increased fire danger risk due to warm temperatures, very low humidity and strong winds.

Both people who live in Peers and on rural properties to the east are being told to head to an evacuation centre …