How big was the Fort McMurray fire?

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.

 

RELATED: See Fort McMurray in photos then and now

 

 

RELATED: When the cartoon Fort McMurray finally burned down

 

 

RELATED: Why Fort McMurray will never be the same

 

WATCH MORE: Fort McMurray evacuees on how their lives have changed one year later