(Emergency crews debrief during mock wildfire and evacuation in Anzac, Thursday afternoon.)

Municipal and provincial firefighters, training side by side for the first time in Wood Buffalo.

More than 100 members, including heavy equipment and helicopters battled a mock blaze in Anzac this afternoon.

A scenario which RCMP assist with road closures and the evacuation of dozens of homes, as the out-of-control blaze encroached on the community.

Julie Farnham is a Captain with the Anzac Volunteer Fire Department and helped to establish a fire perimeter.

"This should be something that's done, maybe on a regular basis, annually, just to join the SRD and Fire Service together, like you mentioned our equipment is somewhat different, and training-wise on the municipal side we not be aware of how to use the SRD equipment and vice versa for them, so learning curves, but we worked really well together today, it was awesome, " said Farnham.

The front-line agencies involved will debrief following the 8,000 hectare blaze, and determine what operational improvements can be made, in the event of a real emergency.

Syncrude says its in talks to join Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance.

President and CEO Scott Sullivan says the company supports the COSIA mandate.

"The concept for COSIA is really the same concept that led to formation of the Oil Sands Tailings Consortium, it's really trying to get oil sands folks together, to share our collective understanding of ways to improve our effectiveness in the environmental area," said Sullivan.

Formed in March, COSIA currently consists of 12 operators including Suncor, Shell, Cenovus and Canadian Natural Resources.