A large wildfire is slowly approaching the major Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, prompting the evacuation of around 6,000 people in four suburbs. The fire, fueled by tinder-dry conditions and high winds, has been threatening the city in the western province of Alberta since last week and is now about 7.5 km (4.7 miles) away from the Fort McMurray landfill.
Fort McMurray is the hub for Canada’s oil-sands output, and a massive wildfire in 2016 forced the evacuation of 90,000 residents and shut in more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of output. Officials expressed hope that a favorable wind shift on Tuesday night could push the fire away from the city, but they acknowledged the significant risk the blaze poses to the region’s critical oil infrastructure.
The fire has grown in size and is now more than 20,940 hectares (51,740 acres). Authorities have ordered the evacuation of residents in the suburbs of Abasand, Beacon Hill, Prairie Creek, and Grayling, and people in other parts of Fort McMurray are also starting to leave voluntarily.
Despite the threat, officials said Fort McMurray is better prepared to fight the fire than it was in 2016, as much of the surrounding boreal forest has already burned, reducing the available fuel. The city has 250 to 300 firefighters on hand to help protect structures, and authorities are encouraging evacuees to leave the city but allowing those who wish to remain in other neighborhoods.
The massive wildfire highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Canadian oil sands industry, which is already grappling with the global transition to cleaner energy sources. The potential disruption to oil production in the region could have significant economic and geopolitical implications.