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Wildfires force about 4,000 people to evacuate homes in northern Alberta

Wildfires have forced about 4,000 people from their homes in north- central Alberta but officials don’t believe any houses have been lost.

Wildfires have forced about 4,000 people from their homes in north- central Alberta but officials don’t believe any houses have been lost.

Cyndi Taron with the Municipal District of Opportunity says 3,700 people have registered as evacuees from Wabasca and Bigstone Cree Nation.

Provincial officials say an out-of-control blaze in the area is two square kilometres in size and firefighters have kept it from growing much larger.

About 300 rural residents in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River have also been told to leave as a precaution.

Fires are burning east of the town of Slave Lake but are not threatening the community.

The government issued a provincewide fire ban on Monday due to extremely hot and dry conditions, the first since 2011.

There are 65 fires burning in the province; 19 are considered out of control.