Canada Wildfire Enormously Expands
MEP: Massive wildfire in Canada is growing explosively and enormously as hot, dry winds pushed the blaze across the energy heartland of Alberta, the country’s officials said Saturday.
The gigantic wildfire that has destroyed large parts of Alberta’s oil sands is expected to continue burning for months.
The flames have already caused the evacuation of 80,000 people from the oil city of Fort McMurray, and thousands are still stuck to the north.
With temperatures on Saturday expected to rise as high as 28 Celsius (82 Fahrenheit), the weather was hindering efforts to fight the wildfire. Officials said it was still burning out of control and expected to keep pushing to the northeast.
Chad Morrison, Alberta’s manager of wildfire prevention, said it is not uncommon to fight such an inferno in forested areas for months.
Two persons have so far killed since the fire started a week ago and thousands of people have been made homeless, according to RT.
The wildfire now covers an area of more than 700 sq miles (2,000 sq km), which includes areas still ablaze and areas already burnt.
“In these conditions officials tell us the fire may double in size in the forested areas today. As well, they may actually reach the Saskatchewan border. In no way is this fire under control,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley told a media briefing.
The fire had scorched at least 156,000 hectares (385,000 acres) by Saturday morning, the Alberta government said.
