Two RCMP officers suffered gunshot wounds in an incident at a rural home in Alberta on Tuesday afternoon while looking for a handgun, police have confirmed.

A source said that a third person had died during the exchange of gunfire and a fourth person was injured, but that has not been confirmed.

RCMP said officers had been dispatched around the property to see if anyone was still in the home.

"Following the incident, RCMP personnel have contained the residence and efforts are presently underway to ascertain whether or not other persons are still within the structure," said RCMP Chief Supt. Rick Taylor Tuesday night.

The officers had arrived at the rural home, about a two-hour drive southeast of Edmonton, at around 2 p.m. One officer was shot in the stomach, while the other was shot multiple times.

The officers were executing a search warrant for a .45-calibre handgun at the home when the gunfire broke out, Taylor said.

The officers were transported to hospital for treatment by helicopter. They were in an Edmonton hospital on Tuesday night, but their identities and conditions weren't known.

Earlier, a brief news release shortly after the incident said police were searching for "an armed suspect."

"The RCMP Emergency Response Team and RCMP Air Services have been dispatched to secure the scene," the release said.

People who lived in the area reported seeing at least eight RCMP cruisers – all with lights flashing – driving on Highway 13.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford, who was briefed by the solicitor general, said one person was in custody.

"I'm glad there's no loss of life, but sometimes even these shootings can lead to pretty serious injuries, so our hopes and prayers are with their families," Redford said.

The officers involved were from the Killam detachment.

Killam Mayor Bud James spoke to CTV Edmonton shortly after the incident.

"It's tragic," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers that have been injured."

The incident is being referred to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which probes cases involving police and serious injury or death.