Alberta Wildfire officials reported on Friday morning that the Fort McMurray wildfire had not increased in size from the previous day, remaining at 19,820 hectares. The fire is still about 4.5 kilometres away from highways 61 and 881, as well as 5.5 kilometres from the Fort McMurray landfill site. Forecasters are predicting subdued wildfire behavior on Friday due to cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and the possibility of rain in the next few days, with estimates ranging from 20 to 80 millimeters by Tuesday. The temperature in Fort McMurray is expected to be 7 degrees Celsius on Friday, with a forecast of 5 to 15 millimeters of rain. Overnight, the region had already received between 8.7 and 10.3 millimeters of rain. Winds are expected to be out of the northeast on Friday, with speeds of 20 km/h.
So far, 2,597 evacuees and 379 pets have registered at reception centers in Edmonton, Lac La Biche, and Cold Lake. Work is ongoing on a containment line to create a fire break between the Athabasca River and Horse River, as efforts to contain the wildfire continue around the clock. Approximately 6,600 residents were forced to evacuate their homes on Tuesday due to the out-of-control wildfire, with communities such as Abasand, Beacon Hill, Grayling Terrace, and Prairie Creek still under evacuation orders. Officials stated that the evacuation order would likely remain in place until at least Tuesday. For the most up-to-date information on evacuation alerts or orders related to wildfires in Alberta, individuals can visit the Alberta Emergency Alert website.
Individuals can access the latest information on the status and severity of wildfires across the province by visiting the Alberta Wildfire website. This platform provides updates on fire advisories, restrictions, and bans throughout Alberta. For detailed information on fire bans in specific areas, residents can check the Alberta fire bans website. This source provides the most recent information on fire-related restrictions in various regions of the province. The content mentioned is copyrighted to Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc., and was published in 2024.
In summary, the Fort McMurray wildfire has not grown in size and remains under observation by Alberta Wildfire officials. Forecasts predict subdued wildfire behavior due to weather conditions, including cloud cover, cooler temperatures, and the possibility of rain in the coming days. Over 2,500 evacuees have registered at reception centers in Edmonton, Lac La Biche, and Cold Lake, while efforts continue to create a fire break between the Athabasca River and Horse River. Communities such as Abasand, Beacon Hill, Grayling Terrace, and Prairie Creek are still under evacuation orders, with the expectation that these orders will persist until at least Tuesday. Individuals can access up-to-date information on wildfire alerts, orders, and bans in Alberta through the Alberta Wildfire and Alberta Emergency Alert websites.
For the latest updates on wildfire activity and containment efforts in the province, residents are encouraged to visit the Alberta Wildfire website. Additionally, individuals can stay informed about fire advisories, restrictions, and bans by checking the Alberta fire bans website for specific details on localized fire-related restrictions. This valuable resource provides real-time information on fire bans in different areas of Alberta. The published content is protected by copyright and belongs to Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc., from 2024.
