Canada wildfire threatens new province

firefighters to tackle the blaze.

The flames have already caused the evacuation of 80,000 people from the oil city of Fort McMurray.

Thousands are still stuck north of the city but the authorities hope to finish their evacuation by the end of the day.

"The Fort McMurray wildfire is still burning out of control," said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

"Temperatures are forecast to be in the high twenties with winds gusting up to 40km/h (25mph). In these conditions officials tell us the fire may double in size in the forested areas today."
Media captionThe wildfire cloud was "like hell", said one resident
At more than 1,500 sq km (579 sq mi), the blaze already covers an area the size of London.

There is the possibility of rain on Sunday and Monday, and the fire is spreading into remote wooded areas minimising its danger.
In pictures: Canadas devastating wildfire How wildfires start and how to stop them Perfect storm boosted Alberta fires Residents flee fire
Earlier this week, most evacuees headed south but some fled north, sheltering in work camps beyond Fort McMurray.

Thousands have since been shuttled out by road and air, with small convoys passing through the fire-ravaged city on Saturday.

Ms Notley said the goal was to complete the evacuations by the end of Saturday.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The huge blaze left scenes like this in Fort McMurray Image copyright EPA Image caption Hot, dry weather is helping the fire spread Image copyright AFP Image caption The fire is now bearing down on the neighbouring province of Saskatchewan
The blaze has ruined entire neighbourhoods, with residents warned it could be some time before they could return.

Despite the mandatory order to leave, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have said they found an elderly man and a family of five in Fort McMurray. They were led to safety.

Some 1,600 homes and other buildings have been lost but no deaths or injuries have been reported.

Fort McMurray is in the heart of Canadas oil sands country, and the region has the worlds third-largest reserves of oil.

As much as a quarter of the countrys oil production has been halted by the fire, raising concerns about the effect on the Canadian economy.

There are warnings the blaze could burn to the edge of a facility run by Suncor Energy but officials said the site is highly resistant to fire damage.

Local DJ Chris Byrne was allowed back into Fort McMurray to check on the damage. He told BBC Newshour what he found.

"Downtown for the most part is still for the most part intact, I think only one building was affected.

"Where I live, in the north end of town, there really wasnt much damage. There are still people living there that just refused to evacuate.

"The worst parts of the city are exactly how people imagined a wildfire going through a town would look like.

"Complete blocks [are] levelled and charred and it looks like a horrific scene."

Hear more
Canada
Canada wildfire threatens new province