By Becky Elliott – AccuWeather
Minor relief is in store for crews battling raging wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia as limited rainfall is expected into next week.
Extreme heat and dry weather fueled the fires in northwestern Canada this week.
The Fort McMurray fire began on Sunday, May 1. According to CBC News, the fire has grown to over 150,000 hectares (579 square miles), as of Saturday afternoon and has destroyed more than 1,600 structures. The ferocious blaze forced the entire town’s population of over 80,000 to evacuate. Many residents documented their harrowing escape on social media.
Late in the day on Friday, the wind at Fort McMurray shifted and began blowing from the south and southeast, pushing the fire northeastward, away from populated areas.
RELATED:
Detailed Fort McMurray forecast
Brett Anderson’s Canadian weather blog
Weekly wrap-up: Fort McMurray fire forces largest evacuation in Alberta’s history; NASA reveals new lightning capital of world
Survival World News 