Good news from up north! 🇨🇦 Overnight rain has given firefighters a much-needed boost in their battle against a massive wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta's key oil sands city. 🌧️🔥
The rain showered the region for several hours last night, and with more wet weather on the way, hopes are high that containment efforts will get a significant lift. \\"This type of weather provides a good window for firefighters to make progress,\\" said wildfire information officer Josee St-Onge.
The fire, which had been edging dangerously close—just 5.5 km (3.4 miles)—to the city's southern outskirts, is now being held back as crews build a solid containment line. 🙌
But hold up! While the rain is a welcome ally, St-Onge warns that the fight isn't over yet. It's the only wildfire out of 44 burning in Alberta that's still deemed out of control. So, no time for complacency!
For those who might not know, Fort McMurray is a big deal in Canada's oil scene. Back in 2016, a massive wildfire forced 90,000 residents to evacuate, destroyed 2,400 buildings, and halted over 1 million barrels per day of oil production. We definitely don't want a repeat of that! 🛢️🏭
There's also a smaller fire to the north, but officials say it's being held and isn’t creeping closer. Phew!
So far, Alberta's oil and gas production hasn't been hit by these fires. But experts are keeping a close eye. Rystad Energy, a research firm, estimated that over 2.1 million barrels per day of oil sands output could be at risk if things take a turn for the worse. Let's hope Mother Nature keeps lending a helping hand! 🤞
Stay tuned for more updates, and keep those firefighters in your thoughts! 🚒❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
