Redwater wildfire doubles in size even as cooler weather moves in [Video]

While Alberta is experiencing cooler weather and higher relative humidity on Thursday, officials say it’s too soon to breathe a sigh of relief as the wildfire danger still remains high across much of the province.

The most notable fire in Alberta currently is burning northeast of Edmonton in Sturgeon County, near the town of Redwater.

Over 24 hours between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, Sturgeon County said that fire doubled in size to a total of approximately 3,000 hectares.

The evacuation zone for the fire grew late Wednesday night, and now encompasses all properties from Township Road 580 south to the North Saskatchewan River, between Range Road 213 East and Range Road 203.

The threat of further fire spread continues, the county said, with high winds in the forecast into Friday.

“Temperature, humidity and wind — that’s going to dictate how the fire operates,” Redwater Mayor David McRae said on Thursday.

Thankfully for the town, on Thursday the …