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IN PHOTOS: Fort McMurray wildfires continue to be seen from space

NASA's Suomi NPP satellite took this image of the Fort McMurray fires and nearby area with the VIIRS instrument in the early morning hours of May 15, 2016. The image shows both the fire and the smoke in contrast. NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP Program/DOD

While the worst of the wildfires seem to be over in Fort McMurray, fires continue to rage in and around the area.

NASA has released new images of the fires as seen from satellites, illustrating how widespread and devastating they have been.

False-colour satellite images show burn scars in and around Fort McMurray after wildfires ravaged the region last week. NASA Earth Observatory image by Joshua Stevens, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey

The wildfire is still out of control, with an estimated 284,214 hectares burning. Five new fires have started in the region over the past 24 hours.

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Smoke from the wildfires around Fort McMurray can be seen from space. Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC

It is taking legions of firefighters to battle back the flames and prevent any further widespread damage. There are 1,919 firefighters, 161 helicopters, 377 pieces of heavy equipment and 29 air tankers battling the blaze.

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Evacuation orders have been issued for Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation.

And while the weather isn’t blistering hot and dry as it was during the worst of the fires, the region is still considered to be under extreme conditions for fire. However, the forecast is calling for rain over the next week.

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