FOG BLOG CANADA LOG: WILDFIRES FORCE EVACUATION OF ABOUT 20,000 RESIDENTS FROM DRAYTON VALLEY AB:

Drayton Valley residents forced out by wildfire head to evacuation centre in Edmonton About 7,000 people who were forced to flee their homes in Drayton Valley, Alta., Thursday faced long waits in their vehicles overnight and on Friday — uncertainty.

“The roads were packed,” said Patricia Cotteau. “I took the back way … through Rocky Rapids … 624 to Tomahawk. It was still about an hour and a half.

“We slept in our vehicles. My husband slept in his, so did my parents, my in-laws. We don’t know where we’re going from here.”

Cotteau said she’s worried about finding a place to stay.

“We have animals with us. We have to think of them. We already heard hotels were booked from Stony Plain to Spruce before the evacuation centre was set up.” he evacuation order for Drayton Valley and Brazeau County was issued Thursday afternoon because of an out-of-control wildfire burning southeast of Drayton Valley. The evacuation zone includes the entire Town of Drayton Valley. It covers the area of Township Road 484 north to Township Road 494, and North Saskatchewan River west to Range Road 80.

It was expanded at 2 p.m. Friday to include the area from the North Saskatchewan River west to Range Road 82.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, the evacuation area expanded to areas including from Township 482 to 494, from the North Saskatchewan River west to Range Road 90.

People are being told to leave via Highway 22 north to Highway 624, then follow 624 to Tomahawk, then 624 east towards Stony Plain.

There is also an evacuation notice for those on Township Road 482 north to Township Road 494 and Range Road 82 west to Range Road 84. People in that area must be ready to leave with 30-minutes’ notice.