We need rain, now..
from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...wing-1.3568035
Fire officials in Alberta do not yet know what started a massive wildfire that chased the entire population out of Fort McMurray, but they now know the only force that can stop it will be a significant change in the weather.
Supercharged by winds of up to 70 km/h, the wildfire ballooned to 85,000 hectares overnight and is now raging on several fronts near the oilsands city.
The main fire, now south of the city, is expected to continue to burn out of control today and perhaps for many days to come.
In addition to the firefighters battling the blaze in the boreal forest, more than firefighters and trucks are in the city itself, protecting homes and buildings."Let me be clear, air tankers are not going to stop this fire," Morrison said. "This is an extreme fire event.
It's going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain to help us.
"I expect this fire to continue to grow over the next number of days."
The temperature is forecast to be much lower today, around 16 C, but winds are expected to blow from the northwest up to 40 km/h.
"We expect the fire to continue to grow in the southeast corner," Morrison said, "but it will be going away from the community."
Portions of the city remain at risk, but it is not clear how grave that risk currently is.
"Yesterday we had air tankers actually water-bombing residential neighbourhoods," Premier Rachel Notley said.
This fire is creating it's own lightning now
"It has begun to create its own weather, even creating its own high winds yesterday, and even lightning was coming from the smoke clouds," Morrison said.
Near the airport, the Nova Hotel, an ATCO Gas building, a maintenance shop, and portions of the airport fire hall were destroyed by the flames, Transport Canada confirmed Thursday morning.
The fire has now burned well past the airport, moving steadily south. With northwest winds forecast to be 40 km/h later today, the fire is expected to continue pushing south, away from the city.
A view from a camera at the Fort McMurray International Airport shows the fire engulfing a nearby outbuilding on Wednesday night.
Live webcam:
http://www.metcam.navcanada.ca/hb/pl...&cam=65&lang=e
Link: https://www.webcamgalore.com/EN/webc...ray/20908.html