May 5 (Reuters) -
* Alberta premier says damage to the community is extensive
and city is not safe for residents at this time
* Alberta premier says cannot speculate on a time that
people will be able to return
* Alberta premier says will not be a matter of days, it will
take longer for people to be able to return
* Alberta premier says officials assessing housing
inventory, looking for transition housing facilities
* Alberta premier says since this morning about 4,000 have
been evacuated from north of Fort McMurray
* Alberta premier says fire did grow today, but rate of
growth has slowed
* Alberta premier says efforts to protect Thickwood and
Timberlea areas have been successsful
* Alberta official says fire still about 85,000 hectares,
fire still moving south east
* Alberta official says will start ground evacuation plans
south tomorrow, will escort people south through Fort McMurray
* Alberta official says expecting westerly winds tomorrow,
still a couple of challenging dry days ahead
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