Mortonville fire evacuation: Residents in northern Alberta forced to flee

People living in Mortonville, a community on the Old Smith Highway in northern Alberta are being forced from their homes as fire threatens houses and businesses in the area.

All residents 15 kilometres on either side of Mortonville in the area of Lesser Slave River #124 were told to evacuate shortly after five p.m. on Monday.

An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued telling people to evacuate immediately, saying a "serious fire" was affecting residential and commercial properties.

All evacuees are advised to make their way to the MD office, where hotel accommodations will be arranged.