Canada

Cooler weather on Monday will help in firefighters  battle to get the Alberta wildfire under control. The fire, which has destroyed about 620 square miles and has been nicknamed "The Beast", has been burning since May 1 and now has more than 100 water-dropping helicopters flying over it. After expecting the fire to double in size over the weekend, light rains and cooler temperatures helped prevent that from happening.

Earlier today, Canada's Globe and Mail released the following helicopter flyover showing the extent of Fort McMurray destruction in the heart of Canada's oilsands region, in the aftermath of the massive wildfire which continues to spread in Canada's Alberta province and until earlier today was threatening to enter neighboring Saskatchewan province.

Russia has offered to send fire-fighting aircraft to assist Canada in dealing with the Alberta wildfire. Communications Adviser for Public Safety Canada, spokesperson Mylene Croteau, told domestic Russian-language news agency RIA Novosti on Friday, that Ottawa will review Moscow’s offer in due course. Sputnik reports: “We can confirm that we have received a letter from the Russian Federation offering their assistance,” Croteau said.

Since we first reported on the massive fire (and the fallout) that was burning in Canada's oil sands gateway, Fort McMurray, things have gone from bad to worse. Today we learn that the fire that has already devastated 600 square miles, growing an additional 50% in less than 24 hours, is out of control, and could double in size by the end of the day.

The devastating wildfire that has already forced all 88,000 residents to flee Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, exploded tenfold in size on Thursday, cutting off evacuees in camps and shelters north of the city. Firefighters are trying to battle the out-of-control blaze, which has already destroyed homes and is threatening infrastructure. Wildfire Spreads in Fort McMurray https://t.co/WP4HnKjL7T#NASApic.twitter.com/7dUTDAmqRd — NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) May 5, 2016 Officials estimated that 1,600 structures had been damaged or destroyed by Wednesday night.