2 large fires burning near Bruderheim, Alta.

Two fires were burning on either side of Bruderheim, Alta., late Saturday afternoon, forcing nearby residents to be evacuated.

One, burning northeast of Bruderheim, was a wild land fire that has spread into the tree stand. A Strathcona County fire official said the fire is burning spruce and pine trees.

Deputy fire chief Bob Scott said the fire is out of control.

Another fire, burning west of Bruderheim in Strathcona County, started just after noon on Saturday.

Officials said it’s in the Strathcona County Wildland Area south of Township Road 564A between Range Road 212 and Secondary Highway 830.

Scott said the fire was “quite large,” covering an area of two kilometres by one kilometre.

READ MORE: Alberta fire season: a list of bans and advisories across the province

Dennis Thompson lives in Fort Saskatchewan and could see the smoke from there. He was driving near Bruderheim and saw what he described as “a huge grass fire” at around 2:30 p.m.

He believes it was near the Bruderheim Recreation Area, by Sand Hills.

RCMP members were dispatched shortly before 2:45 p.m. to assist with traffic control.  Residents in the immediate area of the fire on Range Road 204 between Township Roads 562 and 564 were evacuated.  Additional properties were put on standby for their safety.

Bruderheim is about 75 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Lamont County is currently under a fire ban.

— More to come…