Brazeau County officials have issued an evacuation order to residents of a rural area southwest of Edmonton, after a wildfire was spotted in the area.

According to officials, flames were seen by Brazeau County officials just before 3 p.m. Wednesday, in the area of Range Road 55, and just south of Township Road 500.

Officials said heavy winds were hampering efforts to put out the blaze.

The fire is categorized as out of control, at about 36 hectares in size.

Fire crews from Drayton Valley and Brazeau County were leading the fire fight – as were crews from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, who had dispatched water bombers and a helicopter.

Officials said one outbuilding had been lost, but no homes had been touched by the flames.

As a result, residents living between Highway 759 and Range Road 55, and Township Road 500 and Township Road 494 (50 Avenue), west of the community of Lindale are under an evacuation order.

County officials said about 200 people were under the evacuation order, while another 200 in the Birchwood subdivision were on the one-hour evacuation notice.

Evacuees have been told to head to a reception centre set up at the Mackenzie Centre, in Drayton Valley – evacuated residents are asked to call 780-898-3598 for more information.

The Red Cross has also deployed a team of volunteers to Drayton Valley to help evacuees, the Canadian Red Cross is helping with the reception centre, in addition to providing 80 cots.

In addition to the evacuation, the road has been blocked on Highway 759 between Township Roads 494 and 500.