Wildfire Threat to Oil-Sands Capital Seen Easing as Winds Shift

The threat of a wildfire in the hub of Canada’s oil-sands industry is abating as temperatures cool and winds shift, although the chance of rains putting out the flames entirely is low, Bloomberg said.

• The blaze near Fort McMurray, Alberta, grew overnight to 21k hectares.
• Winds are expected to weaken and push the fire away from Fort McMurra.
• However, the fire remains a threat to the city, parts of which were ordered to evacuate on Monday.
• The bulk of Canada’s 4.9m b/d oil-sands production is around Fort McMurray.
• Although the oil-sands mines and well are well outside of city limits, operations will be affected as many employees live in the town and may be evacuated.
• Suncor Energy, an oil-sands mine operator, said that evacuations haven’t affected operations.