Rain, cooler temperatures help prevent wildfire near Canada’s oil sands from growing

FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) — A wildfire that has forced thousands of people out of their homes in Canada’s oil sands hub city of Fort McMurray, Alberta is being held in place as rain and cooler temperatures sweep through the area. Alberta Wildfire information officer Christie Tucker says the blaze remained out of control — the only such designated fire in the province — but it did not grow overnight and remained at 200 square kilometers  (77 square miles) in size. Tucker said at a news conference: “We’re seeing rain and cooler temperatures in much of the province this week, but unfortunately the northern part of the province is expected to stay drier and warmer.”