The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, May 29, edition that firefighters battled wildfires in Northern Alberta for a sixth day on Thursday, with two blazes near oil sands facilities still out of control. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe reports that the wildfires have forced producers in the Western Canadian province, the largest source of United States crude imports, to shut in 233,000 barrels per day of crude production, about 10 per cent of total oil sands output. The biggest fire had grown in size to 20,000 hectares from 17,000 hectares on Wednesday. That blaze has forced Cenovus Energy and Canadian Natural Resources to shut down production, and evacuate staff from their Foster Creek and Primrose oil sands projects. Wildfire information officer Janelle Lane says the fire had advanced to about 15 kilometres away from Cenovus's Foster Creek site. Although the two oil sands facilities are not threatened directly by the wildfire, it has closed the only access road to the projects. Both Cenovus and Canadian Natural said the status of their operations was unchanged on Thursday. Imperial Oil said Thursday the blaze was just six kilometres away from its wells but not at risk of damage.