How big was the Fort McMurray fire?
A year after wildfires engulfed Fort McMurray, here’s a reminder of just how massive the fire area was
May 4, 2016: A wildfire struck the Fort McMurray area, becoming the most expensive disaster in Canadian history. (Jason Franson/CP)
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The wildfire that would eventually force the mass evacuation of Fort McMurray began May 1. A week later, the fire had grown significantly in size, to at least 85,000 hectares.
As the fire grew, Maclean’s mapped the fire, superimposing its footprint over major cities in North America and Europe to give some context to its size. As people in Fort McMurray and across the country mark the anniversary of the fire, here’s a look back at how large the wildfires grew. The maps reflect the size of the fire area at 11am ET on May 7, 2016.
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