A giant fireball is visible as a wildfire rips through the forest by Highway 63, 16 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, Alta on Saturday, May 7, 2016.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
May 24, 2016 - 1:00 PM
EDMONTON - Officials say about 1,000 additional fire crews from across Canada, the United States and South Africa will be joining the fight this week against a massive wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Senior wildlife manager Chad Morrison says the blaze continues to move northeast away from communities and oilsands facilities in northern Alberta.
He says there was a disappointing "touch of rain" over the long weekend but cooler temperatures have aided the fire fight.
The fire has grown to about 5,230 square kilometres, with 25 square kilometres spreading over the boundary into Saskatchewan.
Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee says work camps that were evacuated are being inspected for possible re-opening, and oilsands companies are looking at when they can resume operations.
A phased re-entry for about 80,000 evacuated Fort McMurray residents is still set to begin on June 1, if conditions are safe.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016