A evacuation alert was issued on Sunday for the small community of Sabre Creek in northern Alberta, southeast of Fort McMurray.

An emergency alert was also issued in Alberta at 3:50 PM to warn residents of the village about the potential spread of a nearby wildfire towards the community.

Anyone in the area was told to be prepared to leave on short notice.

The alert stated: "If you are in Sabre Creek, stay alert and follow the instructions of emergency responders."

A few hours later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that drones flying near the fire were interfering with firefighting efforts.

The Mounties said that the drones were obstructing helicopters assigned to battle the fire.

RCMP stated in a release: "This behavior poses a significant public safety concern as helicopters are a critical component in fighting these fires and keeping them under control." "The public is urged to immediately cease flying drones near wildfire areas and in any area where these helicopters may be flying."

According to Canadian law, only authorized drone pilots can fly over wildfires or within 9.3 kilometers of wildfires. Non-compliance can result in fines and imprisonment.

At 7:15 PM, the Alberta Wildfire dashboard showed a fire spanning 30 hectares that was getting out of control southeast of the community, directly west of Christina River.

Sabre Creek is located about 25 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray.