Drop in Temperature Helps, but Rain Needed for Fort McMurray Fire
Officials say the Fort McMurray wildfire has slowed, but it continues to burn out of control.
A drop in temperature has given fire crews a small break, but low humidity and high winds are expected to keep the situation dangerous.
Regional fire chief Darby Allen took to social media early this morning to send a message to residents, saying things had "calmed down a bit'' in the city itself.
The fire exploded in size on Tuesday afternoon and sent about 80,000 Fort McMurray residents fleeing under a mandatory evacuation order.
A spokesman for Alberta Forestry says the blaze was creating its own high winds on Wednesday, and even lightning was coming from the smoke clouds it created.
Chad Morrison says fire crews will not be able to stop the blaze. He says only "significant rain'' can put an end to the disaster.
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Record-breaking Heat in Manitoba
2016 marks the hottest May 5 on record for many Manitoba communities.
Dauphin got up to 34.4 degrees. The previous record here for May 5 was 31.7 set in 1918.
Swan River hit 34.5, crushing its old record of 30 set in 1911.
Winnipeg, Sprague, Portage, Pinawa, Pilot Mound, Melita, Gretna, Gimli, Fisher Branch, and Brandon also broke records.
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Province Taking More Precautions Against Wildfires
As the heat and dryness continues, Manitoba is putting more restrictions in place in an effort to prevent wildfires.
The province has put restrictions on various activities in Spruce Woods Provincial Park and Forest, including no back-country travel or remote cottage access unless approved by a permit. Boats are to land and launch from developed shorelines only, and camping is only allowed in developed campgrounds.
In southeast Manitoba, motorized back-country travel is prohibited between noon and 7 p.m. daily. And at Birds Hill Provincial Park, campfires are only allowed in approved pits between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
The province has already cancelled burning permits in eastern, central, and parts of western Manitoba.
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Voluntary Evacuation Issued in Northern Ontario Community
A small wildfire is burning in a forest near the boundary between Manitoba and Ontario.
Ontario Provincial Police say around 100 people are being evacuated from the community of Ingolf because of the fire.
The evacuation is voluntary and residents in the Florence and Marion Lakes areas are also being asked to consider leaving the area until the threat has passed.
Water bombers from both provinces are involved in the fight.
