An official update from the Alberta government Thursday showed while wildfires continue to burn across the province, the situation is improving – partially with the help of cooler temperatures.
On Thursday afternoon, officials said 22 new wildfires had been reported in Alberta – and a total of 42 wildfires were burning.
Of those, ten were considered out of control, nine were being held and 23 are under control.
The province said more resources had been shifted to battle a fire burning out of control in the Cold Lake region – and fireguards had been built in an effort to shield oilsands facilities operated by Cenovus Energy and Canadian Natural Resources.
“There are now 250 firefighters and crew members to bring this fire under control,” Alberta government spokesperson Scott Long said. “They have been making progress on containment guards as a measure to protect oil and gas infrastructure and to contain the fire.”
That fire has grown to about 200-square kilometres in size.
Earlier in the week, officials with Cenovus and CNRL shut down the projects in the area as a safety precaution and sent about 2,000 workers home.
Since April 1, officials said 728 fires and 29,702 hectares have burned.
Now, Alberta’s Emergency Management Agency said cooler temperatures and higher humidity was helping fire crews – but rain is still desperately needed. The wildfire outlook is still considered severe, and is expected to continue through to the end of the week.
A province-wide fire ban is still in effect.
Officials said about 1,700 firefighters, 180 helicopters and 28 airtankers have been positioned across Alberta to fight wildfires – and crews are getting help from outside the province, another 150 firefighters are being imported from British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick and Parks Canada.
They will join another 130 firefighters brought in last week.
With files from The Canadian Press
