Residents of Canadian oil town threatened by wildfire can return home

By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO (Reuters) – Residents of a Canadian oil town threatened by an out-of-control wildfire can return home, authorities said on Saturday, even as they warned the community would face the blaze in the near future.

Thousands of residents of Fort McMurray, in northern Alberta, were forced to flee their homes earlier this month. But the favorable weather made it possible to return home.

“With current and forecast weather conditions, specifically the amount of rain that fell on the fire, combined with ongoing fire suppression and community protection efforts, I am pleased to announce that it is now safe for us to end the current evacuation and allow people to return to their homes,” said Sandy Bowman, mayor of the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo, which includes Fort McMurray.

“We thank all of you for your patience, determination and strength.”

Fort McMurray is the center of most of Canada’s oil production. The early start of the wildfire season, a year after a historically intense 2023, has left some remembering a devastating 2016 fire dubbed “The Beast” that forced the evacuation of 90,000 residents, burned 2,400 buildings and left more than 100 buildings inactive. million barrels per day (bpd) of Production.

But although conditions are now favorable and the community is not currently under threat, authorities have warned that they are not out of the woods yet.

The fire is “still not under control,” said Josee St-Onge, information office for Alberta Wildfire. Fire behavior will likely increase when sunlight and warm weather return, she added.

“While it is safe for evacuees to return, residents will have to live with an active wildfire near their community for weeks, if not months. Controlling a wildfire of this size will take time and hard work.”

(Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny, editing by Franklin Paul)