Alberta Wildfire provided update on the out of control wildfire near Fort McMurray

Officials and Government members provided an update regarding the only out of control wildfire in the province Thursday morning.

Crews say fire behavior is expected to be subdued on Thursday and in coming days with 20 to 80 millimeters of total precipitation in the forecast. Earlier this week, many Fort McMurray residents were displaced from their homes due to the evacuation order.

Christie Tucker of Alberta Wildfire spoke to media on Thursday with the latest news on the fire outside of Fort McMurray, she mentioned the fire didn’t grow overnight and the size is now slightly smaller since the previous update.

Evacuation centers have been set up across the province including Lac La Biche, Cold Lake and Edmonton. Residents living in the evacuation order area can now apply for financial compensation according to the Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism, Todd Loewen.

With 43 active wildfires and nearly 300 wildfires extinguished throughout the season, Loewen said only one was caused by lightning. Loewen urges all Albertans to exercise caution during the summer, especially when camping or burning.

Neighbourhoods under the evacuation order issued on May 14, can expect to be evacuated until at least Tuesday, May 21. The RMWB warns until the evacuation order is lifted, it’s not safe to return to the neighbourhoods of Prairie Creek, Abasand, Beacon Hill and Grayling Terrace.

The rest of Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation # 468, Anzac, and Rickards Landing Industrial Park remain under Evacuation Alert.