Fort McMurray wildfire doubles in size overnight
原始发布日期： 2016-05-03 发布者：李方字变大 字变小
North flank of fire encroaching on townFort McMurray wildfire update LIVE 0:00 CBC Edmonton will be live-streaming the latest update from wildfire officials. The news conference in Fort McMurray begins at 11 a.m. MT. Firefighters in Fort McMurray were bracing for what they said would be an "extremely challenging" day after the wildfire more than doubled in size overnight, from 1,285 hectares to 2,600. Bernie Schmitte, wildfire manager at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said that around 7 p.m. the north flank of the fire took a "major run" and reached the Athabasca River. "There is fuel for the fire — bush — but it's a distance away," said Scmitte. "It's not going to reach the town today in any significant way, but there will be some growth." The largest distance between the northern flank of the fire and Fort McMurray is estimated to be about six kilometres. Schmitte expects the fight to be "extremely challenging" due to the winds. He said the fire could be a "full crown fire," meaning it could begin to pass from treetop to treetop. "With the forecasted winds southeast, southwest winds today and the forecasted temperature of 30 degrees and a low [humidity] of 15 to 20 per cent, we're expected to be challenged along that north flank," Schmitte, The eastern tip of the fire, the one encroaching on the town, is burning only 1.2 kilometres away.
An out-of-control fire burns only kilometres away from Fort McMurray. (Marshall Whitsed) Returning homeAbout 200 people remain under a mandatory evacuation order from the Centennial Trailer Park. But hundreds of residents from the neighbourhood of Prairie Creek were able to spend last night in their own beds after a mandatory evacuation order there was downgraded to voluntary.Even so, Melissa Blake, mayor of the Municipality of Wood Buffalo, cautioned residents of the area to remain alert for any changes in the fire. "Shelter-in-place means you should be just as prepared," she said late Monday night. "You should have your bags and be ready to go." The blaze currently sits about 1.2 kilometres away from the city limits. Crews spent the night using heavy machinery to dig fire breaks to hold the fire. Two other out-of-control fires are currently burning in Alberta. One near Red-Earth Creek and one near High Level. Around 800 firefighters are battling blazes across the province. Air support is expected to resume at 9 a.m. MT, and fire officials will be updating the public again at 11 a.m. MT. With files from Marion Warnica |
