1st LD: Raging wildfire spreads to more areas in west Canada

The wildfire in western Canada has ballooned to 85,000 hectares in Fort McMurray overnight and is now billowing across a wide front south of the city, a senior official said Thursday.

The fire, which broke out early this week, has forced a massive evacuation, said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley one day after the province declared a state of emergency.

Supercharged by winds of up to 70 km/h, the Fort McMurray wildfire is expected to continue to burn out of control Thursday as more than 1,110 firefighters, 145 helicopters and 22 air tankers are fighting to protect homes and critical infrastructure across the oil sands gateway.

Latest update on damages is not available yet but officials said Wednesday that at least 1,600 homes and buildings have been destroyed as over 88,000 residents were evacuated from Fort McMurray.

Officials said one major task on Thursday will be to re-evacuate up to 25,000 people now sheltering in oil sands work camps north of the city. The province hopes to transport many of those people, who fled Fort McMurray two days ago, by aircraft to Edmonton later.

Fire crews on the ground expect to receive reinforcements soon from other parts of Canada. Ontario will send 100 fighters Friday and Quebec has dispatched four air tankers.

The massive fire caused significant damage near the Fort McMurray airport overnight and forced more evacuations further south down Highway 63.

On Wednesday afternoon, Alberta declared a province-wide state of emergency to provide full support and better coordinate resources. Enditem