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Rain helps stall wildfire near Canadian oil city

Overnight rain helped firefighters stall a large wildfire near the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, and wet weather on Thursday was expected to further aid containment efforts, local authorities stated.

The area received rain for a couple of hours through the night and the projection for the next couple of days is for more rainfall, officials for the Regional Town of Wood Buffalo, which includes Fort McMurray, stated at a rundown.

This type of weather supplies a great window for firemens to make development, wildfire info officer Josee St-Onge said.

The fire stayed about 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from the landfill on the city's southern outskirts where crews are developing a. containment line.

It is the only one out of 44 wildfires burning in Alberta. considered out of control, and St-Onge warned against complacency. due to the rain, saying more work was required to include the. blaze.

Fort McMurray is the center for most of Canada's oil output. A. big wildfire in 2016 forced the evacuation of 90,000 citizens,. burned down 2,400 structures and idled more than 1 million. barrels per day (bpd) of production.

A smaller sized, separate wildfire that had ignited to the city's. north was likewise being held and not sneaking more detailed, authorities. said.

There have been no reports of fire-related interruption to. Alberta oil and gas production, though research company Rystad. Energy estimated that more than 2.1 million bpd of marketable. oil sands output - or 2.6% of total petroleum and lease. condensate supply - might be at threat if conditions materially. intensify.

The region has rain projection every day up until Monday,. according to Environment Canada, though there is also a danger of. thunderstorms and lightning that can ignite new fires.

Some 6,600 people in 4 residential areas closest to the blaze were. told to leave on Tuesday. Homeowners who have actually left will not be. able to return till May 21 at the earliest.

(source: Reuters)