FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — Cooler temperatures and light rain have officials optimistic they've reached a turning point on getting a handle on a massive wildfire that has devastated parts of Canada's oil sands town of Fort McMurray.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the battle against the fire has stabilized to the point where she can visit and begin the next phase of the government's operation to determine what must be done to eventually allow people to return to the city. A massive evacuation of 25,000 residents displaced by the blaze also came to an end.
More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. Gas has been turned off, the power grid is damaged and water is not drinkable. Officials said there is no timeline to return residents to the city, but the provincial government is sending in a team on Monday to do preliminary planning.
David Yurdiga, the member of Parliament for the area, toured Fort McMurray Sunday and said he was now more optimistic.
"We'll be back on our feet a lot quicker than I thought we would be," he told reporters at the roadblock just south of the city. "All of the key infrastructure is in place. Our hospital is standing. Our schools are standing. Our treatment plant is functioning."
"I toured probably every neighborhood in Fort McMurray and 80 percent of the homes are standing," he said. "Some areas you don't even know there was a fire."
With cooler temperatures forecast for the next three or four days, Alberta fire official Chad Morrison said firefighters should be able to put out hot spots. And it has allowed them to further protect Fort McMurray. He said he was very buoyed and happy that they are making great progress.
"It definitely is a positive point for us, for sure," said Morrison, who answered yes when asked if the fight to contain the flames had a reached a turning point.
"We're obviously very happy that we've held the fire better than expected," he said. "This is great firefighting weather. We can really get in here and get a handle on this fire, and really get a death grip on it."
Photos: Alberta wildfire
More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings.
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires stand at an evacuation center in Lac la Biche, Alberta, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared the massive wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires sit outside at an evacuation center in Lac la Biche, Alberta, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared the massive wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Firefighters from Ontario are briefed prior to heading into Fort McMurray, Alberta, south of the city on Highway 63, on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared a massive wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Jonathan Hayward /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A helicopter helping with the Fort McMurray wildfire takes off from a staging base near Conklin, Alberta, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared the massive wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Leslie Lozinski, spokeswoman for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, talks to the media about firefighting resources based at a helipad in Lac La Biche, Alberta, on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The firefighters in Lac La Biche are focusing on recent wildfires that have broken out since the one at Fort McMurray. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)
Police watch a convoy of cars and trucks pass a wildfire as they are evacuated from Fort McMurray, Alberta, south of the city on Highway 63 on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials hoped to complete the mass evacuation of work camps north of Alberta's main oil sands city of Fort McMurray on Saturday, fearing the growing wildfire could double in size and reach a major oil sands mine and even the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. (Jonathan Hayward /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer puts on his gas mask before heading on the highway to Fort McMurray, Alberta, as a massive wildfire continues to burn out of control Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared the wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Inspector Kevin Kunetzki updates the media on the highway to Fort McMurray, Alberta, as a massive wildfire continues to burn out of control, Saturday, May 7, 2016. Canadian officials feared the wildfire could double in size by the end of Saturday as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city. (Ryan Remiorz /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires wait to file insurance claims at a shelter in Lac la Biche, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
An evacuee from the Fort McMurray wildfires checks his smartphone as he rests at a shelter in Lac la Biche, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Wild fires burn south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, seen from highway 63 Friday, May 6, 2016. Displaced residents at oil field camps north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, got a sobering drive-by view of their burned out city Friday in a convoy that moved evacuees south amid a massive wildfire that officials fear could double in size by the end of Saturday. As police and military oversaw the procession of hundreds of vehicles, a mass airlift of evacuees also resumed. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Smoke rises from a wildfire about 18 miles south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, along highway 63, Friday, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A plane drops fire retardant on a nearby wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
RCMP officers wear gas masks to combat the smoke as they man a checkpoint on the highway to Fort McMurray, Alberta, where wildfires are still burning out of control Friday. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning.
A water bomber drops its load on a wild fire south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on highway 63, Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
A wildfire breaks out along highway 63 about 10 miles south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks.
Canadian Armed forces members, helping with the Fort McMurray wildfire, prepare to take off from their base near Conklin, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
A massive plume of smoke rises from a wildfire burning out of control near the highway to Fort McMurray, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires look through donated supplies in Lac la Biche, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires look through donated supplies in Lac la Biche, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires look through donated supplies in Lac la Biche, Alberta, on Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada' oil sands, where the fire has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuee from the wildfire in Fort McMurray, Chance Jones, an employee of Canadian Natural Resources Limited, loads donated necessities into his truck at the evacuation center in Lac la Biche, Canada, Thursday, May 5, 2016. A massive wildfire raging in the Canadian province of Alberta grew to 85,000 hectares (210,035 acres) and officials said Thursday they would like to move south about 25,000 evacuees who had previously fled north, including 8,000 by air. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A plane surveys the area near a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Thursday, May 5, 2016. An ever-changing, volatile situation is fraying the nerves of residents and officials alike as a massive wildfire continues to bear down on the Fort McMurray area of northern Alberta. The province of Alberta declared a state of emergency. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
RCMP officers man a checkpoint on the highway to Fort McMurray, Alberta, as wildfires are still burning out of control Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
A member of the RCMP is silhouetted by the setting sun as he is surrounded in smoke from wildfires south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on highway 63 Friday, May 6, 2016. Displaced residents at oil field camps north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, got a sobering drive-by view of their burned out city Friday in a convoy that moved evacuees south amid a massive wildfire that officials fear could double in size by the end of Saturday. As police and military oversaw the procession of hundreds of vehicles, a mass airlift of evacuees also resumed. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Members of the RCMP are silhouetted by the setting sun as they are surrounded in smoke from wildfires some 16 km south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on highway 63, Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
Evacuees leave Fort McMurray in the early morning, after being stranded north of wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada on Friday, May 6, 2016. The Alberta provincial government, which declared a state of emergency, said more than 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers were fighting the fire, but Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said rain is needed. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Volunteers load water for evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires at the evacuation center in Lac la Biche, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, in the heart of Canada's oil sands, as a wildfire that has devastated the area exploded in size. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfires continue to arrive at the evacuation center in Lac la Biche, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, in the heart of Canada's oil sands, as a wildfire that has devastated the area exploded in size. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Police stop traffic at a road block near a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada oil sands, where the fire has torched over 1,000 homes and other buildings. (Jason Franson /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Flames a smoke rise from a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada oil sands, where the fire has torched over 1,000 homes and other buildings. (Jason Franson /The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Police officers direct traffic under a cloud of smoke from a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Friday, May 6, 2016. Officials said shifting winds were giving the embattled northern Alberta city a break, but they added the fire that forced 80,000 people from their homes remained out of control and was likely to burn for weeks. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Heat waves are seen as cars and trucks try and get past a wild fire 16 km south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on highway 63, Friday, May 6, 2016. Chad Morrison, Alberta's manager of wildfire prevention, said the cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but that it started in a remote forested area and could have been ignited by lightning. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)
Notley said the wildfire grew much more slowly than was feared and was now 161,000 hectares (397,831 acres) in size. She said the blaze was quite a bit smaller than had been expected on Saturday, when officials expected it to double in size. She added the city was safe for first responders.
It rained on Sunday, and the municipality of Wood Buffalo, which includes Fort McMurray, tweeted a picture of the rainfall and wrote: "It was only for a few minutes but the sight of rain has never been so good." Notley retweeted the picture and wrote "Here's hoping for much more!"
Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said they "may be turning a corner" but cautioned it's too early to celebrate and a lot of work remains.
Officials completed the transport of 25,000 residents out of work camps north of the city after police oversaw a procession of thousands of vehicles Friday and Saturday, and a mass airlift of thousands of evacuees was also employed from the oil mine airfields. The bulk of the city's evacuees moved south after Tuesday's mandatory evacuation order, but 25,000 evacuees moved north and were housed in camps normally used for oil sands workers.
No deaths or injuries have been reported from the fire itself. But Notley mentioned two evacuees who died in a traffic accident during the evacuation. Her voiced cracked when talking about the two and noted it is Mother's Day. Fifteen-year-old Emily Ryan and her stepmother's nephew, Aaron Hodgson, died in the accident.
The images of Fort McMurray are one of devastation — scorched homes and virtually whole neighborhoods burned to the ground.
The fire and mass evacuation has forced a quarter or more of Canada's oil output offline and was expected to impact an economy already hurt by the fall in oil prices. The Alberta oil sands have the third-largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Its workers largely live in Fort McMurray.
Morrison said the fire has not reached the Suncor or Syncrude oil sands facilities north of Fort McMurray and that the mines north are not under threat. Notley said there will be a meeting with the energy industry on Tuesday to discuss the state of the facilities and the impact on operations.
Suncor said late Sunday it is beginning to implement its plan for a return to operations.
Fort McMurray Fire Chief Darby Allen asked for the patience of residents who are eager to find out if their homes are still standing.
"We are really working hard on that, it's a complicated process, what's damaged, what's left," Allen said in a posted video. "We really will get that to you as soon as we possibly can."
Saskatchewan Emergency Management Commissioner Duane McKay said there is heavy smoke in south west Saskatchewan, but no imminent threat of fire to any communities in the province that neighbors Alberta.
Lac La Biche, Alberta, normally a sleepy town of 2,500 about 175 kilometers (109 miles) south of Fort McMurray, was helping thousands of evacuees, providing a place to sleep, food, donated clothes and even shelter for their pets.
Jihad Moghrabi, a spokesman for Lac La Biche County, said that 4,400 evacuees have come through The Bold Center, a sports facility in town.
