Winds expected to move fire away from Fort McMurray on Wednesday: Alberta Wildfire
CTV
A wildfire burning near Fort McMurray is expected to move away from the community on Wednesday.
A wildfire burning near Fort McMurray is expected to move away from the community on Wednesday.
The MWF-017 wildfire near Fort McMurray is now 5.5 kilometres from the city's landfill, two kilometres closer than it was on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire is 4.5 kilometres from the Highway 63 and Highway 881 intersection and is about 21,000 hectares in size — about the size of Victoria, B.C. — according to the latest information.
Officials expected fire behaviour to be subdued in the morning, but sunny conditions in the afternoon could fan the flames.
"Active fire behaviour is expected today, but it should be less than what we saw yesterday, thanks to cooler temperatures and weaker winds," Christie Tucker with Alberta Wildfire told reporters. "Winds from the northwest at 10 km/h are expected today, which should push the fire away from Fort McMurray and Highway 63."
A fire ban will take effect in the community on Wednesday at 2 p.m. MT.
"Under the fire ban all outdoor wood fires on public and private land are banned," Todd Loewen, minister of forestry and parks said.
