OTTAWA: Evacuation orders for thousands in Alberta were lifted on Wednesday while a third oil company joined others in shuttering its facilities threatened by wildfires in the Canadian oil patch.

The fires have blackened nearly 30,000 hectares of forests in the Canadian province, forcing a 14-per cent cut in oil sands production as residents and oil workers were ordered this week to flee.

As of 10:00 am, 63 forest fires were still burning, but the number of out-of-control blazes had been reduced from 20 the previous day to 13.

Successes in battling the flames allowed evacuation orders affecting some 4,700 residents of the Wabasca hamlet and other northern communities to be lifted, according to the Alberta wildfire operations center.

“We are somewhat pleased at the slight turn to the better with respect to the control that appears to be in place around the communities and the fact that some people are being able to return to their homes,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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