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Saskatchewan watching Fort McMurray fire approach, but no imminent threat

The Fort McMurray wildfire and another blaze in northern Alberta are moving towards Saskatchewan, but have not crossed the provincial boundary as quickly as initially feared.

REGINA — The Fort McMurray wildfire and another blaze in northern Alberta are moving towards Saskatchewan, but have not crossed the provincial boundary as quickly as initially feared.

Steve Roberts with Saskatchewan wildfire management, says the fire that has devastated Fort McMurray is 30 kilometres away and another large fire is 15 kilometres from crossing over.

Roberts says that means the fires are more than 50 kilometres from any Saskatchewan community, so there's no imminent threat to places such as La Loche or Buffalo Narrows.

The communities have been under special air-quality advisories from Environment Canada, because winds have spread smoke from Alberta into northwestern Saskatchewan.

Roberts also says that fires in parts of northern Saskatchewan last summer may help the situation this year.

He says some of those fires burned between the provincial boundary and Saskatchewan communities, which there is no fuel for the Fort McMurray fire if it moves east.