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Key developments in Fort McMurray wildfire

Key developments in Fort McMurray wildfire | iNFOnews.ca
A giant fireball is seen as a wildfire rips through a forest along Highway 63, about 16 kilometres south of Fort McMurray, Alta. on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The wildfire that burned through Fort McMurray, Alta., and continues to rage in the region has forced the shutdown of another oilsands project.On Monday morning, the Canadian subsidiary of Norwegian giant Statoil ASA confirmed that it has closed its Leismer demonstration project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

EDMONTON – A look at some of the key developments Sunday in the battle against a wildfire that forced the evacuation last week of Fort McMurray, Alta.

— The last of 25,000 residents who fled north of Fort McMurray to oilpatch work camps were successfully moved south of the fire.

— More than 250 ATCO employees were in the city working to restore the power grid and assess gas infrastructure.

— Alberta Agriculture and Forestry were working with the RCMP and SPCA to help evacuees who left behind dogs, cats and other pets during Tuesday’s emergency evacuation.

— The wildfire was 1,600 square kilometres in size and was expected to grow overnight, although the pace of its growth slowed Sunday.

— More than 1,500 firefighters, about 150 helicopters, 222 pieces of heavy equipment and more than 28 air tankers were fighting wildfires across the province.

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The Canadian Press

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