The wildfire threatening Fort McMurray grew rapidly on Monday, fueled by shifting winds.
Cooler temperatures and calmer winds have helped subdue the wildfire threatening Fort McMurray, a relief to firefighters bracing for a prolonged battle with the flames.Two days after evacuation orders were issued in Fort McMurray, municipal and emergency officials offer the latest details on the wildfire threatening the community. Jody Butz, the regional fire chief, Josee St-Onge with Alberta Wildfire and Mayor Sandy Bowman will speak at Thursday's news conference.
The fire continues to burn out of control and now covers nearly 21,000 hectares of forest along the south side of the Athabasca River valley, less than six kilometres from the outskirts of the community.Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Christie Tucker said Thursday the fire threatening Fort McMurray didn't grow overnight but moved slightly north toward the Athabasca River.
Thursday's forecast calls for an afternoon high of 11 C and up to 20 millimetres of rain before nightfall. In the areas most at risk, crews are clearing any debris that might catch a spark and dousing homes and businesses with fire retardant. Soakers, studded with cannons that can blast enough water into fire-threatened ditches to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 90 minutes, are part of the effort.
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