Massive northern Alberta wildfire continues to grow

A fire burning in the backcountry north of Fort McMurray is now the largest wildfire recorded in Alberta in the past 60 years.

The Richardson backcountry fire is burning approximately 60 km north of Fort mcMurray and now covers more than 415,000 hectares.

The fire stretches from McClelland Lake to Richardson Lake but currently poses no threat to oilsands operations.

"It’s a really wind-driven fire so that means it’s really long," said Geoffrey Driscoll with Alberta’s Sustainable Resource Development. "As a matter of fact it’s so long that it’s about the same length as driving from Edmonton to Red Deer."

Ground crews continue to use bulldozers to construct fire guards, while helicopters and a Martin Mars water bomber are assaulting the fire from above.

There are currently 34 wildfires burning in the province, two are listed as out of control, three are being held, 26 are under control and three are listed as ‘turned over.’