Republished May 05, 2016 - 11:52 AM
Original Publication Date May 04, 2016 - 2:15 PM
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - A wildfire burning in and around Fort McMurray grew substantially by Thursday due to high winds that gusted to as much as 70 km/h overnight. Government officials acknowledge numbers associated with the fire can fluctuate as information becomes available.
Size: 850 square kilometres.
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Structures burned: 1,600 (as of Wednesday afternoon). No updated figure available.
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Total number of people displaced: More than 80,000.
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Evacuees: 25,000 in oilsands work camps to the north of the city. The rest headed south to Anzac, Lac La Biche, Edmonton and Calgary, although it's unknown how many opted to camp, stay with family or go directly to hotels.
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RCMP officers deployed: 300.
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Firefighters on scene: About 300. Another 100 expected from Ontario.
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Weather: Expected high of 16 C with low humidity. Strong winds from northwest gusting to 40 km/h.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016