Overnight rain has provided a much-needed reprieve for firefighters combating a large wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta, nestled within Canada’s oil sands region. Local officials reported that the rainfall, which lasted for several hours through the night, helped to stall the blaze, bringing hopes of quicker containment.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, encompassing Fort McMurray, anticipates more precipitation in the coming days, further supporting the efforts to control the fire. \\"This type of weather provides a good window for firefighters to make progress,\\" stated Josee St-Onge, wildfire information officer.
Currently, the wildfire remains approximately 5.5 kilometers from the landfill on the southern outskirts of Fort McMurray, where crews are diligently constructing a containment line. Despite the progress, St-Onge cautions against complacency, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to ensure the fire remains under control.
This blaze is the only one out of 44 wildfires in Alberta that is considered out of control. A separate, smaller wildfire to the north of the city is also being managed and has not advanced closer to Fort McMurray.
Fort McMurray serves as the epicenter for Canada’s oil production, making the containment of this wildfire crucial. In 2016, a massive fire in the region led to the evacuation of 90,000 residents, the destruction of 2,400 buildings, and the idling of over one million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of disruptions to Alberta’s oil and gas operations due to the current fires. However, research from Rystad Energy suggests that more than 2.1 million bpd of marketable oil sands output, representing 2.6% of total crude oil and lease condensate supply, could be at risk if conditions worsen.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
