Massive Canada wildfire “to double in size”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Officials in Canada say the huge wildfire which has devastated the oil town of Fort McMurray in Alberta could double in size over the next 24 hours, BBC News reports.

The fire currently covers an area larger than New York City and is being fanned by winds and feeding on dry vegetation.

The flames are now moving away from the town, most of whose inhabitants have now reached safety.

More than 80,000 people were evacuated from the city earlier this week.

Most fled south but many fled north. A land convoy evacuating people from oil worker camps in the north on Friday, May 6 was suspended after 200ft (60m) flames flanked the road.

The police-escorted column of 1,500 vehicles was due to pass by the southern part of the city but was suspended on Friday afternoon until Saturday.

The provincial government said on Friday that the fire had grown to 1,000 sq km (386 sq miles).

Wildfire prevention manager Chad Morrison said there was a "high potential that the fire could double in size" by the end of Saturday.

But he added that it would expand into a more remote forested area north-east of Fort McMurray.

Dry conditions and 27C heat were expected during the day, but cooler temperatures would prevail and there was a possibility of rain on Sunday and Monday.

The provincial government has declared a state of emergency and will provide C$100m ($77m) in cash to evacuees.