FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — A massive wildfire raging in Canada’s oil sands capital has moved into Alberta’s neighboring province of Saskatchewan, but officials said Thursday that they hope cooler temperatures and rain forecast for the coming days will help mitigate its spread.
News of the fire’s movement comes a day after officials said that the more than 80,000 residents who were forced to evacuate Fort McMurray and surrounding regions two weeks ago could return home starting on June 1 if conditions are deemed to be safe.
Alberta senior wildlife manager Chad Morrison said the fire, which has grown to 1,930 square miles, has burned nearly three square miles into Saskatchewan. However, it is still about 18 miles away from La Loche, the nearest Saskatchewan community.
Emergency management commissioner Duane McKay said there is no direct threat from the flames, in part because of the lake next to the community and because fires last year mean there’s less brush and trees to burn.
McKay said there’s hope that winds from the east will help clear some of the smoke moving toward La Loche.
