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Spreading Western Canada wildfire triggers thousands to leave

The season's very first significant wildfire continued to burn throughout Western Canada as firemens tamed the fast spreading blaze while authorities left a. town in British Columbia and advised locals of an oil center in. Alberta to prepare to leave.

Alberta stated the wildfire was severe and out of control,. located 16 km (9.94 miles) southwest of Fort McMurray and spread. throughout 1,992 hectares (4922.34 acres) of land, nearly double. what was reported earlier.

In British Columbia, countless homeowners in Northern. Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nations were. asked to evacuate as the blaze spread in size to 1,696 hectares.

Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Rob Fraser in a. tv interview said the majority of the 3,500 locals in and. around Fort Nelson had been evacuated.

Fraser said the fire was started by a tree blown down by. strong winds falling onto a power line.

Five crews of wildland firefighters, nine helicopters and. airtankers worked on the fire on Saturday with cooler. temperatures in the evening anticipated to slow wildfire behavior,. said Alberta authorities.

Operations advanced Saturday night with night vision. helicopters and heavy devices.

Evacuation alerts remained in place for Fort McMurray, Saprae. Creek Estates and expanded to Gregoire Lake Estates and Rickards. Landing Industrial Park late Saturday.

There is no instant danger to these neighborhoods,. the alert makes sure citizens are prepared to evacuate if. conditions change.

Smoke in Fort McMurray on Saturday was coming from fires in. northern British Columbia, Alberta stated.

Environment Canada provided an unique air quality declaration. that extends from British Columbia to Ontario on Sunday.

The federal government has actually cautioned Canada deals with another. devastating wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal. spring and summertime temperature levels across much of the country,. boosted by El Nino weather.

Canada experienced among its hottest winter seasons with low to. non-existent snow in numerous locations, raising fears ahead of a hot. summer triggering blazes in forests and wildland amid an ongoing. dry spell.

In 2016, more than 80,000 people evacuated from Fort. McMurray as a fire torched countless homes and structures.

(source: Reuters)