May 28 (Reuters) - Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) said on

Wednesday it was scaling back non-essential workforce from its

Foster Creek facility in response to wildfires in Northern

Alberta.

A recent

wildfire

in the Canadian province of Alberta, has prompted a

temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced

residents of a nearby small town to evacuate.

Alberta Wildfire said that the blaze, nearly 1,600

hectares in size, is burning out of control about 7 km north of

Swan Hills in the province's northern region.

The Canadian oil and gas producer added that it was

closely monitoring the evolving wildfire situation in the region

and the staffing measure was a precaution.