Wildfire near Fort McMurray is now the largest in Alberta

A picture taken through a window shows smoke rising from wildfire MWF017 on the south side of the Athabasca River valley near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada May 10, 2024. Alberta Wildfire/Handout via REUTERS

The out of control wildfire burning 70 kilometres northeast of Fort McMurray is now the largest fire in Alberta. With high temperatures and dry conditions, wildfire MWF047, is roughly 60 kilometres in size on Friday.

It hasn’t moved towards any industrial sites or communities, and there are no evacuation orders in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region. Suncor and Cenovus have removed all non-essential staff from the Firebag and Sunrise operations as a precaution.

The wildfire remains 8 kilometres northeast of Firebag, and 50 kilometres northeast of the Fort McKay First Nation and Metis Nation.

There are 250 firefighters and support staff working to work MWF047. Another 18 helicopters and 16 pieces of heavy equipment are attacking the wildfire.