Without Heavy Rain, Fort McMurray Fire Could Last Months
Fire officials are bracing themselves for a long, long fight against the blaze that forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray.
Chad Morrison with Alberta Wildfires says unless they get a dump of 100 millimetres of rain, they expect to be out fighting the fire in the forested area for months to come.
As for the city of Fort McMurray, he says he expects they would get a good handle on the situation over the next month or two.
There still is no timeline for any of the 80,000 evacuated residents to be allowed back into their homes.
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Mandatory Evacuation for MB Cottagers from Growing Wildfire
Strong winds and low humidity is making it difficult for firefighters to battle two wildfires on the Manitoba-Ontario boundary.
A blaze east of Beresford Lake had grown to approximately 13 square kilometres by yesterday afternoon, leading to a mandatory evacuation for the Beresford cottage subdivision of Nopiming Provincial Park.
About 100 residents of Ingolf, Ontario, are still under a voluntary evacuation. Residents in the Florence and Marion Lakes areas were also asked to consider leaving the area until the threat has passed.
Water bombers from both Manitoba and Ontario are involved in the fight.
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NDP Name Interim Leader
Manitoba New Democrats have formally named Flor Marcelino as their interim leader.
Marcelino will serve in what she says is a caretaking role as the party rebuilds from last month's election loss, which prompted the resignation of former premier Greg Selinger.
The 64-year-old was a surprise choice for many, because she has held a low profile in cabinet as the multiculturalism minister since 2009.
Marcelino says she faces challenges with public speaking because English is her second language and a brain tumour in 2002 slowed her speech skills.
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Washout Closes Section of Parkland Highway
There's a road washout south of Minitonas on Highway 366.
Manitoba 511 says it's 40 kilometres south of the community, and says it is impassable.
The area should be signed and marked, but exercise caution.
