Gusty winds contributed greatly to the dramatic increase in size of a wildfire near Fort McMurray to nearly 21,000 hectares, causing it to grow in multiple directions and produce large smoke columns.

In a 7 p.m. update, Alberta Wildfire said the wildfire has grown to 1,000 hectares and is 16 kilometres southwest of Fort McMurray. There are four crews of wildland firefighters, three helicopters ...

The Fort McMurray fire comes as Canada is just entering a new fire season after last year's record number of wildfires sent choking smoke across parts of the U.S. and forced more than 235,000 ...