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Alberta fires threaten oil installations

Provincial government reports about a dozen blazes out of control.

By Daniel J. Graeber
More than 30 new blazes erupt in Alberta as energy companies report key installations under threat. File photo Heinz Ruckemann/UPI
More than 30 new blazes erupt in Alberta as energy companies report key installations under threat. File photo Heinz Ruckemann/UPI | License Photo

CALGARY, Alberta, May 28 (UPI) -- Wildfires are moving closer to key oil installations in Alberta province as the government reports nearly three dozen new outbreaks in the last 24 hours.

The provincial government in Alberta enacted an open-fire ban amid a persistent threat of wildfires. The government expects hot, dry conditions to continue at least through the end of the week.

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"In the last 24 hours there have been 33 new wildfires," the provincial government said in its latest update. "The wildfire outlook in Alberta continues to be severe."

Since April 1, more than 600 wildfires have been reported, charring more than 32,000 acres of land.

As of late Wednesday, there were 63 active wildfires in the province and 13 are out of control. Canadian energy company Cenovus said fires were about 12 miles from its Foster Creek oil sands facility and about a mile away from its Caribou South natural gas plant.

"The infrastructure at both facilities has not been impacted at this time," the company said in a late Wednesday statement.

Both facilities, however, remain shut down as a precautionary measure. Located on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, the company evacuated staff from the plants during the weekend.

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Some Alberta oil and gas operations are back in service.

The provincial government said in its latest update all evacuation orders have been lifted.

"People who were previously under a mandatory evacuation order are in the process of returning to their homes," it said. "The local authorities are coordinating their re-entry."

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