A dozen rural residences were evacuated Sunday afternoon as a wildfire alert was issued for an area in Cypress County located west of Irvine, Alta., officials told CBC News.

The alert, issued at 12:59 p.m., says a wildfire south of Highway 1, along Range Road 40, is threatening residential homes, with winds coming from the west.

An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued Sunday afternoon for Cypress County, due to a wildfire requiring evacuation east of Dunmore. (Alberta Emergency Alert)

People in the immediate area are urged to evacuate using Range Road 40, south to Township Road 114, if safe to do so, and to seek shelter in an open area without trees, plants or flammable structures, if possible.

Both directions of Range Road 40 are closed at eastbound Highway 1 as of Sunday afternoon, a

See Full Page