Wildfires Force Mass Evacuation of Alberta Oil Sands Staff

Wildfires force suspension of tenth of Alberta’s oil sands output

Statoil Canada, MEG Energy  and Cenovus Energy have evacuated hundreds of oil sands staff from three projects—Christina Lake, Narrows Lake and  Leismer—in NE Alberta, as raging wildfires threaten the major oil-producing region.

“At least 233,000 barrels per day of oil sands production, nine per cent of Alberta’s total oil sands output, has been suspended in Alberta’s northeast because of the fire risk, said a report.

ALBERTA WILDFIRE Update – May 26, 2015 @ 10:00hrs

• At least 19 out-of-control wildfires and 50 other forest fires are raging across the province, as of update, A total of 55 wildfires were sparked on Monday, most by lightning.
• States of Emergency have been declared for several towns due to the fires.
• A 200-hectare wildfire forced evacuation of approximately 5,000 residents of Wabasca.
• The fiercest fires include
  1. 10km  from the hamlet of Wabasca.
  2. 22km east of Slave Lake (see also Slave Lake Hit by Back-to-Back Disasters).
  3. 40km  NW of Cold Lake (see also Another Dark Day for Global Climate, Environment).
• Alberta has experienced 687 wildfires that have burned 18,435.22 hectares between April 1 and May 26, 2015, according to the latest government update.
• Officials have evacuated several towns threatened by fires throughout the province.
• Alberta has deployed more than 1,300 wildland fire crews and about 100 aircraft to control the fires.
• Alberta has declared a province-wide fire ban.