Weather co-operating as firefighters hold back Fort McMurray wildfire

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A wildfire threatening the northern Alberta community of Fort McMurray has gained little ground since Wednesday morning but officials warned on Thursday that it will take a long time before firefighters are able to extinguish the blaze.

The wildfire covers nearly 20,000 hectares and remains about 5.5 kilometres from the landfill south of the city and 4.5 kilometres from a major highway intersection. While the fire did creep northwest toward the Athabasca River on Wednesday, cooler temperatures, weaker winds, snow cover and overnight rain prevented any significant spread.

Josée St-Onge, a spokesperson for Alberta Wildfire, said that until 11 p.m. on Wednesday flames were seen stretching into the sky. She said wildfires of this magnitude burn deep into the ground and hot spots smoulder even under rainfall, especially with an abundance of dry fuel on the forest floor.

“Having the entire wildfire extinguished could take something closer to months and, in some cases, it’s taken years,” said Ms. St-Onge.

Another fire burning about three kilometres north of Fort McMurray is now classified as being held, which means it is not likely to spread beyond its current boundaries. It is about one hectare in size and Alberta Wildfire said it poses no threat to the city.

In British Columbia, a blaze that forced the evacuation of Fort Nelson, a small community in the province’s northeast, now encompasses 12,700 hectares but has spread away from the town along its southern flank.

Rob Fraser, mayor of the Northern Rockies Municipality, which includes Fort Nelson, said it was by the “grace of God” that the wildfire didn’t scorch the community that’s home to about 4,700 people. An evacuation order was issued last Friday when 70-kilometre-an-hour winds were blowing.

That region is also being helped by weather, although B.C. Wildfire Services said it won’t be enough to “offset the prolonged drought and cause the fires to self-extinguish.” Evacuees are not yet being allowed to return home.

More than 6,000 residents from four neighbourhoods in Fort McMurray are still under an evacuation order. The directive, issued Tuesday, will be in place until at least May 21. Other residents chose to leave ahead of an official order.

Jody Butz, Fort McMurray region fire chief and director of emergency management, said 2,133 people have so far registered at evacuation centres. He said gas and power remain connected in the neighbourhoods at highest risk and an additional 40 RCMP officers have been assigned to patrol vacant areas.

During a media tour of the fire protection efforts, Mr. Butz said crews have applied 168,000 litres of fire retardant on the trees adjacent to the most vulnerable communities, such as Beacon Hill.

The phosphate-based product, which doubles as fertilizer, should protect the areas for about a month, he said. The coating stretches about 30 metres into the bush and rain will allow it to soak into the fire fuel on the ground.

Crews are also using large-diameter sprinklers to protect Greyling Terrace, another evacuated community. Firefighters are pumping water from the Hangingstone River onto the brush and forest adjacent to homes.

There are currently 172 firefighters, 22 helicopters and 57 pieces of heavy machinery working on the Fort McMurray blaze.

Mr. Butz said the city was being “graced with Mother Nature’s kindness” earlier Thursday and that people not under evacuation orders are “welcome to come home.”

John Laslo and Josie Kervian did just that.

The pair fled to Mr. Laslo’s brother’s place in Lac la Biche, about 290 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, on Tuesday as smoke from the fire intensified. They live in Gregoire, a community near the evacuated neighbourhoods, and left as a precaution. But, after the forecast turned in the city’s favour, they made the trip home on Thursday morning.

“We’re going to have a wet weekend, and rain all night, so that’s great,” said Mr. Laslo, as he browsed Canadian Tire’s outdoor garden centre.

Mayor Sandy Bowman acknowledged on Thursday that residents facing uncertainty are hoping for good news but said safety is of the utmost importance.

“With some help from the weather, I’m hopeful we are headed in the right direction. We also know from our experience in this region that this is day to day, and even minute to minute,” said Mr. Bowman.

Fort McMurray’s downtown was more lively Thursday compared to earlier in the week. But the exodus of thousands of residents, combined with schools cancelling classes until next week, forced some businesses to close or reduce their hours.

Adrianna Curnew, shopping at the local Wal-Mart that was open for limited hours, said there is an “ominous feeling” in the community. “There’s a lot less people here,” she said. “It is like: Should I be here? But why should I leave?”

Ms. Curnew was scheduled to reopen one of Plantlife Cannabis’s two dispensaries in Fort McMurray Thursday afternoon after they closed earlier in the week because of a staff shortage. “I’m the only employee here in town,” she said.

There were 42 active wildfires in Alberta, as of Thursday afternoon, with the Fort McMurray inferno the only one classified as out-of-control. So far this year, 323 fires have ignited in the province, covering roughly 30,000 hectares. More than 460,000 hectares had been burned by this time last season.

With files from The Canadian Press