Thousands of residents of Fort McMurray and the nearby community of Saprae Creek remain on an evacuation alert as an out-of-control wildfire burns south of the city, but municipal officials say in their latest update that winds on Saturday appear to be pushing the flames further south. A massive swathe of burned forest is seen as a wildfire designated MWF017 by the Alberta Wildfire Service, top right, continues to burn near Ft. McMurray, Alta., in a Saturday, May 11, 2024, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Alberta Wildfire Service, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – Much of Alberta is grappling with the effects of wildfires, with residents in the Fort McMurray area remaining on evacuation alert due to an active blaze.
Environment Canada says smoke billowing from fires in northeastern B.C. is expected to dissipate later in the day over much of the province, including Calgary and Edmonton.
But it says harmful smoke is expected to continue hovering over parts northwestern Alberta until Tuesday.
An out-of-control fire continues to burn 16 kilometres southwest of Fort McMurray, where area residents have been told to prepare to leave at a moment’s notice.
Alberta Wildfire says the fire has grown to almost 55 square kilometres in size.
Parts of the County of Grande Prairie and the Municipal District of Greenview were evacuated Friday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2024.
