The fire raging through the Canadian province of Alberta has grown into a behemoth blaze that has consumed an area bigger than New York City.

Alberta officials warned Thursday that the inferno, which forced the evacuation of the city of Fort McMurray, could grow even larger because "conditions are still tinder dry."

"Because so much of this is dependent on the weather ... that means that certainty is not a feature of any statements at this point," provincial premier Rachel Notley said when asked if the worst of the fire was over. "Until we've got it under control, it would not be responsible to make any declarations."

Notley said the fire has already scorched 85,000 hectares — or 328 square miles. For point of comparison, all five boroughs of New York City add up to 304.6 square miles.

There was a chance of rain in the forecast Thursday for Fort McMurray. But it appeared a deluge was needed to stop the intense wildfire that has already forced some 88,000 people to flee and destroyed more than 1,600 homes and buildings.

While more than 1,000 firefighters frantically battled the blaze, officials declared a state of emergency across the entire province of Alberta.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told his country's House of Commons that the government will match all donations to the Red Cross relief effort for the fire refugees.

"We will make it through this most difficult time together," he said.