Alberta and many of its rural counties are paying up to $50,000 an hour to battle a roaring brush fire northeast of Edmonton, says Charles Newell, reeve of Thorhild County.

A truck heads into the smoke created by a brush fire in Thorhild County north of Edmonton. (CBC)

If the workdays of more than 200 firefighters — spending 12 to 14 hours a day fighting the blaze — are factored in, the cost to the provincial government and counties like Thorhild is high, Newell told CBC News Monday.

Twelve families from Thorhild County have fled their homes since the fire began last Wednesday.

Strong winds fanned the flames of the fire, which has grown to about 3,000 hectares near Opal, about 60 kilometres north of Edmonton.

One home in Thorhild County has been lost, Newell said.

On Sunday, six families in Westlock County fled after the fire jumped a 10-metre-wide fireguard. Officials had asked them to leave but said their homes were not believed to be in imminent danger and the evacuation was a precaution.

"Everybody's been evacuated," said Dennis Acheson, who owns a cabin on Half Moon Lake. "Everybody's loaded up their personal belongings and basically got out."

Officials expected Monday would be one of the toughest days yet for the firefighters, including many volunteers, because of high winds and high temperatures in the forecast.

"Everyone is going on not as much sleep as they normally would have," Newell said. "They are leaving what they do to help out."

The fire damaged property on John Oleksyn's farm. (CBC)Sprinklers were being set up at nearby homes, and fire engines and water tenders were staying close to structures at risk, officials said.

Water bombers were being used to attack the flames, and fireguards were being dug to keep the fire away from homes and outbuildings.

John Oleksyn, who owns a cattle farm, said the fire has damaged about 1,000 hectares of his property.

"It's a very good fire, it's a very strong fire," he told CBC News on Monday. "It will keep going for a very long time."

His home isn't located on his property and hasn't been affected, Oleksyn said.

"But the beauty of the land is gone."