Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for communities in remote northern Alberta as the province braces for another day of potentially explosive wildfire activity.

More than 166 fires are actively burning across the country, reports the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. 84 of the fires are "out of control", as of Thursday, with blazes ripping through provinces of Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia.

A total of 25 out-of-control fires are burning in the province amid hot, dry weather, with flames now within 20 kilometres of about 200,000 barrels of daily oil production, according to data from Alberta’s energy regulator and wildfire department. The province had only four out-of-control fires on Monday.

The Red Flag Warning has been sounded by Alberta Wildfire. But what does it mean?

A red flag watch is issued when there's high fire danger risk due to warm temperatures, very low humidity and stronger winds — and it comes as more thunderstorms are expected.

Cooler temperatures and a high amount of precipitation are forestalling wildfire season from fully taking shape in Western Canada for now.

Caption: Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as wildfires burn across the Prairies. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a state of emergency on Thursday, a day after his Manitoba counterpoint Wab Kinew announced one for his province — even though some say it did not lead to enough support.

CALGARY (Reuters) -A wildfire in the Canadian province of Alberta prompted the temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of a small town to evacuate. The blaze, which Alberta Wildfire said is approximately 1,

Alberta’s wildfire season has begun with dangerous blazes threatening oil production and prompting evacuations near key energy sites.