Growth of ‘The Beast’ Slows

The Beast measures 579,946 hectares as of 9 a.m., Monday including the portion in Saskatchewan.

Crews continued making progress with heavy equipment on dozer guards as over 318 kilometres have already been completed.

There are 1,746 wildland firefighters and support staff, 72 helicopters including five heavy helicopters, and 252 pieces of heavy equipment. Additional resources are on the way as over 2,000 firefighters are expected to be on the ground over the next week. About 300 firefighters from South Africa arrived in Edmonton Sunday from Johannesburg.

The weather forecast for Monday sees a 60 per cent chance of showers with a risk of thunderstorms in the late afternoon. Wind will come out of the north gusting to about 40 km/h near noon with a high of 14. More showers are expected at night.

A full fire ban is still in effect for the Fort McMurray area.