A wildfire burning out of control in north-central Alberta has triggered an evacuation order for part of Woodlands County, including the West Ridge subdivision.

An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday to alert area residents to the evacuation order.

The fire is burning 3.5 kilometres south of Whitecourt, Alta., and is just one kilometre away from Highway 43, according to the Woodlands County website. Whitecourt is located about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

As of 7:40 p.m., the county said the evacuation order is in effect for people “south of Highway 43, between West Ridge subdivision (Range Road 114), east to and including Range Road 111A in Woodlands County.”

All residents in the area were told they must leave immediately, and to take pets, important documents and medication.

Officials said evacuees should register at a reception centre that has been set up at the Allan & Jean Millar Centre in Whitecourt.

CBC News spoke to Whitecourt Mayor Ray Hilts on Monday evening. He said as of 7 p.m., 50 wildfire evacuees had registered at the town’s reception centre and that the evacuation order is currently believed to be affecting about 30 homes.

By 7:15 p.m., the fire had grown to between 55 and 60 hectares in size, according to Dave Kusch, the reeve of Woodlands County.

Hilts said he left a council meeting in Whitecourt and could see the fire from the town.

“[It’s] right there. And you know, there’s lots of smoke, especially dark smoke, which would indicate a pretty active fire,” he said.

Hilts added that he saw water bombers working on the fire Monday evening too.

According to the Alberta government’s website, firefighters, helicopters and airtankers are actively fighting the fire.