Evacuees continue to stream from Alberta oil town Fort McMurray as high winds and dry conditions fan flamesThe raging wildfire that forced the evacuation of the Alberta oil town of Fort McMurray intensified on Saturday as hot,dry weather whipped up fires around the beleaguered community. Police continued to escort fresh convoys of evacuees out of the region as officials warned the fire could double in size this weekend.The blaze – the largest of more than 40 wildfires that are now burning across the province of Alberta – has forced virtually all the 88000 residents of Fort McMurray to flee. The weather, which has seen temperatures rise to 28C, and continues to hinder efforts to fight the wildfire,said Matthew Anderson, an official with the Alberta government. “It’s going to be a very extreme fire-hazard kind of day, and ” he said. “The fire’s growth potential is fairly large.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com