Search
 

Cooler weather helps with Alberta wildfire as premier visits

Cooler temperatures are helping fire fighters battle wildfires raging through Alberta as the blaze retreats from the countrys main oil-sands facilities around Fort McMurray.

By Robert Tuttle, Rebecca Penty, Allison McNeely | Updated on May 09, 2016
Fire trucks drive toward smoke from a wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Officials said Sunday they have completed the transport of thousands of evacuees and reached a turning point in fighting a massive wildfire, hoping to get a “death grip”’ on the blaze that devastated Canada’s oil sands town of Fort McMurray amid cooler temperatures. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)

(Bloomberg) – Cooler temperatures are helping fire fighters battle wildfires raging through Alberta as the blaze retreats from the country’s main oil-sands facilities around Fort McMurray. Rachel Notley, the province’s premier, will travel to the city Monday after the fires knocked out an estimated 1 million barrels of daily production and led to the evacuation of more than 80,000 people.

The inferno, which had been forecast to expand to more than 2,500 square kilometers (965 square miles), grew slower than expected and now covers about 1,600 square kilometers, Notley said at a news conference on Sunday. Thirteen new wildfires started Sunday, for a total of 33 fires, little changed from the day before. Three are judged “out of control,” three are being held and 22 under control, Travis Fairweather, a forestry spokesman, said by phone Monday.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free
PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader.

INCLUDED IN A DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP:

  • All PropertyCasualty360.com news coverage, best practices, and in-depth analysis.
  • Educational webcasts, resources from industry leaders, and informative newsletters.
  • Other award-winning websites including BenefitsPRO.com and ThinkAdvisor.com.

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

PropertyCasualty360

Join PropertyCasualty360

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed decisions for your P&C insurance business. Join PropertyCasualty360.com now!

  • Unlimited access to PropertyCasualty360.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including BenefitsPRO.com, ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on PropertyCasualty360, National Underwriter, Claims and ALM events

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join PropertyCasualty360

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.