Raging wildfires have forced more than 20,000 people to leave their homes after receiving a special weather alert in Western Canadian City of Calgary.
Some 90 wildfires were burning in Alberta on Monday afternoon, with 23 fires considered out of control, according to the provincial government, forcing about 20,000 people out of their homes.
At one point the fires forced oil and gas producers to shut in at least 319,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 3.7% of national production, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday morning, Calgary-based Crescent Point Energy (CPG.TO) said it was shutting in its Kaybob Duvernay production, impacting 45,000 boe/d, as a precautionary measure due to changing wildfire conditions.
Benchmark Canadian heavy crude prices have risen to their highest levels in months on concerns about the wildfires.
A cold front bringing gusty northwest wind, but little rain, was likely on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada’s weather department.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday visited Alberta, where meteorologists expect virtually no rain for 10 days or so.
In the provincial capital Edmonton, Trudeau received an update on firefighting efforts by Canadian soldiers sent to help provincial firefighting and recovery efforts since Thursday.
More troops are expected to join in the coming days, according to the Alberta government.
The first 11 days of May have set seasonal heat records in several parts of Alberta, including Edmonton, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Schmidt, one of the army officials who briefed Trudeau, told him about the regions most at risk and how a lack of rain in the forecast was “a huge challenge.”
“I don’t believe the worst is behind us,” Alberta Wildfire agency official Christie Tucker said at a briefing.
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