A wildfire that forced thousands of people to evacuate several FortMcMurray neighbourhoods last week is no longer classified as out-of-control.
Alberta Wildfire says the blaze, which is still burning south of the city and is close to 2,000 square kilometres in size, was re-classified to “being held” as of May 19.
In announcing the change on social media, Alberta Wildfire says recent rain allowed firefighters and heavy equipment operators to make excellent progress on containing the fire.
About 6,600 residents of the Abasand, Beacon Hill, Prairie Creek and Grayling Terrace neighbourhoods were forced to hastily leave their homes on May16, but rainy weather late last week helped firefighters contain the flames and all of the evacuees were allowed to return on May 18.
An evacuation alert for the entire city of Fort McMurray, which told residents they should be ready to leave at short notice, was lifted at the same time.
Alberta Wildfire says over 40 millimetres of rain has fallen on the fire since May 16.
