The Canadians may be catching a break. If it is exploited to end the flames it might stop it's progression if not it's heat. This are oil sands and will smolder and give off heat for awhile yet.
May 8, 2016
By Ian Austen
Edmonton, Alberta — A week after it started, (click here) the enormous forest fire that attacked Fort McMurray, Alberta, had abated enough on Sunday to allow police, fire and health workers to move into hotels within the abandoned city.
Although the fire was far from vanquished, lower temperatures and light showers allowed firefighters to check its progress. Rachel Notley, the premier of the province, said the fire was “quite a bit smaller than we feared.” Instead of reaching half a million acres as forecast, she said, it had covered 390,000 acres by Sunday morning.
The fire’s path shifted away from Fort McMurray into a heavily forested and unpopulated area closer to the border with Saskatchewan, said Chad Morrison, Alberta’s wildfire manager. The change in weather, he added, should allow firefighters to start applying a “death grip” on the blaze over the coming days. But fully extinguishing the flames is likely to take months.
“It definitely is a positive point for us, for sure,” Mr. Morrison told reporters...
While Prime Minister Trudeau has not need for international help at this point, it is important to note the international community has an sincere interest in these events.
May 7, 2016
By Globe and Mail with contribution from Mark Blinch
- Fort McMurray’s fire chief says 85 per cent of the city is still intact (click here)
- Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says 2,400 buildings were lost, but praised firefighters for saving 25,000 more
- Hospital, municipal building and all functioning schools were saved
- She’ll also be meeting oil-company executives to discuss next steps
- Cooler temperatures are expected to help firefighters get a handle on the fire
- The blaze will take months to extinguish, an Alberta fire official says
- Police found some people in the evacuated city
- Moscow has offered to send water bombers, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there’s no need for international help at the moment
- Analysts are scaling back their projections for Canada’s economic growth because of the fire
- Canadian insurer Intact Financial Corp. is assessing the damage, and suggests it is of “unprecedented” scope
May 8, 2016
By Ian Austen
Edmonton, Alberta — A week after it started, (click here) the enormous forest fire that attacked Fort McMurray, Alberta, had abated enough on Sunday to allow police, fire and health workers to move into hotels within the abandoned city.
Although the fire was far from vanquished, lower temperatures and light showers allowed firefighters to check its progress. Rachel Notley, the premier of the province, said the fire was “quite a bit smaller than we feared.” Instead of reaching half a million acres as forecast, she said, it had covered 390,000 acres by Sunday morning.
The fire’s path shifted away from Fort McMurray into a heavily forested and unpopulated area closer to the border with Saskatchewan, said Chad Morrison, Alberta’s wildfire manager. The change in weather, he added, should allow firefighters to start applying a “death grip” on the blaze over the coming days. But fully extinguishing the flames is likely to take months.
“It definitely is a positive point for us, for sure,” Mr. Morrison told reporters...
While Prime Minister Trudeau has not need for international help at this point, it is important to note the international community has an sincere interest in these events.
May 7, 2016
By Globe and Mail with contribution from Mark Blinch
- Fort McMurray’s fire chief says 85 per cent of the city is still intact (click here)
- Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says 2,400 buildings were lost, but praised firefighters for saving 25,000 more
- Hospital, municipal building and all functioning schools were saved
- She’ll also be meeting oil-company executives to discuss next steps
- Cooler temperatures are expected to help firefighters get a handle on the fire
- The blaze will take months to extinguish, an Alberta fire official says
- Police found some people in the evacuated city
- Moscow has offered to send water bombers, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there’s no need for international help at the moment
- Analysts are scaling back their projections for Canada’s economic growth because of the fire
- Canadian insurer Intact Financial Corp. is assessing the damage, and suggests it is of “unprecedented” scope
