Alberta firefighters battling 700 hectare wildfire near Hinton

HINTON, Alta. – Firefighters are trying to contain an out-of-control wildfire east of Hinton, Alta., that grew to estimated 700 hectares Wednesday night.

Provincial officials say the blaze was about 15 kilometres from the town, but moving east and was not a danger to the community.

Some 30 firefighters and heavy equipment were working overnight to contain the fire.

The province was asking the public to stay off lakes that are being used to draw water to fight the blaze.

High winds and no precipitation has driven the wildfire danger in the area to “very high.”

The Thursday weather forecast calls for a 30 per cent chance of showers late in the afternoon.

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