Wildfires in Canadian province of Alberta pose threat to country's oil production

Wildfires in Canada could result in the country’s crude output falling by 5% as the fire in Alberta’s oil sands region gets closer to major production facilities, Bloomberg reports. 

According to Alberta’s energy regulator and wildfire department, 26 out-of-control blazes have broken out in the province due to hot and dry weather. Flames are now within 20 kilometers of the oil facilities producing 245,000 barrels per day.

A fire near Cold Lake on Alberta's eastern border has prompted Cenovus Energy to withdraw non-essential workers from the nearby Foster Creek site. At the same time, Canadian Natural Resources reports steady operations at the Kirby facility, which is further away from the fire.

Earlier this week, the town of Swan Hills in the central part of the province was evacuated. This led to the shutdown of the Aspenleaf Energy driller, whose oil production is about 4,000 barrels per day. Additionally, Texcal Energy Canada-operated wells are now within the fire's perimeter, according to government data.