Wildfire burning in northern Alta. near Grassland forces road closure and some evacuations

As a nearly 400 hectare wildfire rages in central Alberta near Lodgepole, crews in northern Alberta are also battling a wildfire. Boyle RCMP say the 300 hectare wildfire, which is burning about 17 km northwest of Grassland, has forced the closure of highway 63 north of the junction at Highway 55 to Wandering River, as well as the evacuation of several rural residences in the area.

More than 20 firefighters, 3 helicopters, as well as number of air tankers and bulldozers are fighting the wildfire along with the local fire department.

Geoffrey Driscoll, a Wildfire Information officer from Alberta Environment and SRD, expects crews to be working into the evening and overnight to get the situation under control.

While Driscoll isn't sure exactly how many residents are affected, he says there are a number of farm and ranch houses in the area.

Grassland is a hamlet in Athabasca County, located on Highway 63. It's about 150 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, and around the halfway point between Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

Alberta Wildfire is posting updates on Facebook and Twitter, and we'll have more information as it becomes available.