FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — A wildfire that has forced thousands out of their homes in the Alberta oilsands hub city of Fort McMurray was held in place Thursday as rain and cooler temperatures swept the area.
Alberta Wildfire information officer Christie Tucker said the blaze remained out of control – the only such designated fire in the province – but it did not grow overnight and remained at 200 square kilometres in size.
Thick red hoses mounted to water cannons blasted enough water into dry ditches to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 90 minutes.The soakers help protect buildings, homes and vital routes in and out of the city against flames that forced the evacuation of about 6,600 residents out of four neighbourhoods on Tuesday.
"We can cover large distances. That frees up traditional mobile resources like fire trucks and helicopters to deal with higher priority areas." In Manitoba, about 500 people remained out of the remote northwestern community of Cranberry Portage.
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