New Blazes Ignite Near Oil Sands Hub
A series of wildfires have ignited around Fort McMurray, a city central to Canada’s oil sands operations. Eight out-of-control fires have emerged south and southwest of the city since Wednesday, adding to the existing three burning to the north near major oil sands mines.
A recent wave of hot, dry weather across Alberta has triggered multiple new fires in the province’s remote northern regions, with nearly a dozen surrounding Fort McMurray. While these fires are still distant from the city, one fire to the northeast has already impacted production at Suncor Energy Inc.’s Firebag oil sands site.
Echoes of 2016 Disaster
Fort McMurray, the most populous area near Canada’s vast oil sands operations, experienced a devastating fire in 2016 that led to mass evacuations and temporarily halted over 1 million barrels per day of oil production. The city was also partially evacuated in May due to an approaching wildfire.
Despite the recent surge in fires, Alberta’s 2024 wildfire season has been less severe than the record-breaking events of last year. The province has recorded 690 fires so far this year, compared to 840 by this time in 2023. The difference in the area burned is even more significant, with less than a tenth of the land affected compared to last year.
Temperatures Expected to Ease
Temperatures in northern Alberta are predicted to cool slightly on Thursday, offering some relief after exceeding 30°C (86°F) on Wednesday.
Quebec, the eastern province, is currently battling 74 active fires. While northern Quebec faces extreme fire danger according to Natural Resources Canada, most of the province experiences low to moderate risk.
The southern zone, home to most of the population, has seen a significantly smaller area burned compared to the same period last year.
Impact on Gas Production
In addition to oil sands production, wildfires in Alberta are also threatening natural gas operations. Several gas sites with a combined production of about 30,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day have out-of-control fires within 10 kilometers.