Wildfire near Fort McMurray more than triples overnight, several evacuation alerts remain in place
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
The out-of-control wildfire burning 16 kilometres southwest of the northern Alberta city grew substantially between Friday and Sunday afternoon, driven by strong winds in the region.
"It was pushing away from Fort McMurray due to the wind conditions. However, they changed a little bit and the fire will now be moving in a northwestern direction towards the Athabasca River," said Melissa Story, Alberta Wildlife information officer.
Night vision helicopters worked overnight and dropped water on the southeastern edge of the fire. While fire activity was subdued overnight, warm temperatures were expected to drive higher activity Sunday afternoon.
Evacuation alerts remained in place Sunday for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation 468, Anzac and Rickards Landing Industrial Park.
Residents should be prepared to evacuate on short notice, keeping medication, important documents and emergency kits ready. Updates can be found on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website or the Alberta Emergency Alert website.
The fire is burning 12 kilometres west of Highway 63, and officials warned residents that visibility or highway access could be affected. Access to Fort McMurray on Highway 881 was not expected to be affected or closed.
Sunday, six crews of wildland firefighters, and 13 helicopters and airtankers worked on the fire.
Heavy equipment worked on a fire guard on the northeast edge of the fire, and structure protection was being established in Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray 468 First Nation as a precaution.
An Incident Management Team has arrived in Fort McMurray to manage the fire.
"They are monitoring the conditions and they're preparing daily reports and daily activities for wildland firefighters," Story said. "We are doing everything we can to build a barrier between that wildfire and any communities."
The fire prompted Fort McMurray's mayor to reassure citizens on social media Sunday, saying the municipality is well prepared to handle whatever comes its way.
Out of 43 active wildfires as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday, the fire near Fort McMurray was one of two burning out of control. The other was in the Grande Prairie Forest Area near the Hamlet of Teepee Creek.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Feature Report Fixed or variable? Advice from more than 50 brokers for Canadians whose mortgages are up for renewal
Over the next year-and-a-half, 44 per cent of all mortgages will be up for renewal in Canada. To help guide consumers through these uncertain financial times, CTV News reached out to more than 50 mortgage brokers across Canada with a list of questions. Their answers provide professional guidance for individuals and families searching for clarity and sound advice.
Bread, milk, apples: Federal NDP wants price cap for grocery store staples
The federal New Democrats want a price cap on grocery store staples if the Liberal government can't convince grocers to bring down the prices themselves.
Mourners can now speak to an AI version of the dead. But will that help with grief?
A 61-year-old startup entrepreneur teamed up with his friend in the U.S., Robert LoCascio, CEO of the AI-powered legacy platform Eternos. Within two months, they built "a comprehensive, interactive AI version" of Michael Bommer -- the company's first client.
National Bank of Canada seizes Ont. woman's car by mistake
A university student woke up one morning to find her car had been towed away without warning. She finally got answers - just not the ones she expected.
North Korea's trash balloons deepen tensions with the South. Here's what's happening between rivals
Animosities between North and South Korea are rising sharply again over an unusual cause: The North's rubbish-carrying balloons.
Her gut was producing alcohol. Doctors didn't believe her
For two years doctors told her she was an alcoholic. Then they realized her gut was making alcohol from carbohydrates, a rare condition called auto-brewery syndrome.
Forest bathing: What it is and why some Alberta doctors recommend it
Many people are familiar with the benefits of being in nature, but forest therapy goes a step further than a simple walk in the woods.
India election: Modi's coalition leads in early count but opposition is stiffer than expected
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's coalition led in a majority of seats Tuesday in India's general election, according to early figures, but faced a stronger challenge from the opposition than expected after it pushed back against the leader's mixed economic record and polarizing politics.
Takeaways from Fauci's testimony at contentious House hearing on COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified on Monday at a House subcommittee hearing about the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the origins of the virus.