Fire Destroys Oil Sands Location

In today’s update, the Fort McMurray fire had grown to 355,000 hectares. Evacuations have expanded in the areas where the fire is moving. The fire destroyed one oil sands work camp that was evacuated yesterday. Losing a work camp might not have the emotional impact of a town burning down, but a work camp is almost like a small town and the economic consequences are in proportion to the scale. Work is interrupted and families have been left homeless. In one more dubious milestone, the growing fire probably crossed the border into Saskatchewan this afternoon.