I don't know if we have any members living in Fort McMurray, but this is a big story for those of us in Alberta, and maybe for other Canadians on our board who might have family living or working there. The entire city (61,000 people) is under a mandatory evacuation order due to a rapidly moving wildfire. Neighbourhoods are burning now, and the highways are jam packed with residents leaving.

If you're in McMurray, be safe, and if any of your friends or family are affected, I'm sending positive thoughts your way. It's heartbreaking and frightening. I lived in Fort McMurray early in my work life, and still have friends there.

I was watching live news coverage. The Northern Lights Medical Centre where my first granddaughter was born is being evacuated. The wind changed and the fire increased in size exponentially. Dozens if not hundreds of homes have been lost. The news video showed a steady stream of cars headed south out of town. The nearest major city is Edmonton but that's 300 miles away and there is but one road out of the city. My son and his family lived there for 4 years and we're thankful they no longer live there.
Fort Mac is about oil and nothing else and the city has been hurting during the oil price crash. This wildfire is a heavy body blow to them.

RB

The LDS Edmonton Facebook group says they're ready to welcome the evacuees. If only they can do it without some benefit to themselves...

Ain't that white and delightsome of them!

RB

Any chance the Mormon Church will open their buildings so these people have a place to stay? I doubt it unless there are yellow shirts and TV news coverage.

We live with the threat and effects of severe bush fires. Sincerely hoping all stay safe and can rebuild their lives after devastating losses.

My sons there now...its bedlam and heartbreaking to see people lose everything theyve worked for in a few hours...thats so devastating to even see someone else go through...only a few years ago Slave Lake a few hours west was devastated by fire...they are so short of people to fight the fire my sons last text said hed likely get on a CAT and try to do some good...with wildfires you just do what you can till rain...cooler temps...or the wind blows it back on itself...like anything to do with mom nature...you mostly get to spectate and try to get around it....shes just that good...yesterday the fire jumped a river two hundred yards wide and the road out of town was impassable due to fire and smoke...most were headed north after that...looks like its gonna be a real mess...our neighbor works there too...hes on his days off...and real glad not to be there

Having your son there must be a huge worry for you. Hoping he stays safe today. My friend's son evacuated with his two year old yesterday, took him ten hours to get to Spruce Grove. His wife is stuck at her work site north of McMurray, no word yet when she'll be allowed to leave. People are still on the highway, many stranded without fuel, though I guess fuel tankers are headed up Highway 63 to get people moving again. Hot temps again today, and no rain in sight. Just hoping for a better day.

Did the Church burn down in Beacon Hill? Most of that subdivision where it is located did.

The regional fire chief said this morning that 80% of the structures in Beacon Hill are gone.

RB

2 babies born overnight to evacuees holed up in one of oilsands camps north of town. Amazingly no serious injuries or deaths reported after 80K people evacuated Fort Mac in less than 24 hours.

RB

This is such a blow to the people of this city. Truly awful.

I recall a poster named 'southbound' who often posted from 'the oil patch' which is often synonymous with Fort McMurray. I hope he's ok.

I think southbound worked more in Northern BC (Ft St John, Dawson Creek area), though his job might also take him to McMurray. Hopefully he's in a safe spot.

I'm sending positive thoughts northward. Stay safe, friends, and may your loved ones be safe as well.

The fire service is on this. One of our ships have left to fight this fire and another one is leaving tomorrow. I do hope all is well and everyone can get out safely. I work for a company that fights forest fires ( with Sikorsky skycranes helicopters ) all over the world. Mostly the US and Canada.

This fire has greatly increased. along with the ships, 8 support people (pilots and mechanics ) go with each one. Please keep them and all firefighters in your thoughts as we battle this fire and all others this summer.

Yeah i worry a little about my kids...but accept that shit happens and sometimes its family or someone you know...it always hurts more when its close to home...sounded like yest the road out was closed for a time...one thing i tried to teach my kids...it doesnt cost anymore to keep the top half of a gas tank full than the bottom half...you might go a lifetime and it wont matter...i guess in ft mac yesterday it did...all you can do with kids is teach them the best you know and hope they never need most of it.l.especially your fears..my kids are already light years ahead of me at that age...they mostly escaped the virus of mormonism...i tried to innoculate them for it...innoculation works both ways...im dam proud of my kids and the people they are

This is awful....I'm sending my best thoughts northward too.

I got this link about it
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/catastrophic-fort-mcmurray-wildfire-surpasses-10-000-hectares-1.3566310

Well, I'm having a better day than those poor people.

It's horrible! Apocalyptic looking, even...

What worries me is that this is only early May, the May-Long hasn't even happened yet. There's a loooong fire season before us still...

Human

Used to live in Alberta and still have family there. Thinking of them tonight. Am always so impressed with how Canadians handle trouble.

I just saw the film footage on the evening news. It looks awful and frightening. Take care, Canadian friends.

The winds are driving the fire in the direction of the airport now, and as I was watching video of a couple helicopters fighting the fire and thought I recognized them. They belong to my wife's cousin's company from Slave Lake Alberta. Slave Lake was itself devastated by a wild fire several years ago.
Please keep all the pilots and air crews fighting this monster fire in your thoughts. They are risking their lives to save Fort McMurray.

Ron Burr

Just watched a video posted by a friend of my son's. Dude was driving through the devastated Beacon Hill neighborhood and I saw that the LDS church building looked untouched. There were pockets of intact buildings surrounded by blocks of scorched earth. War zone.

RB



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2016 08:48AM by Lethbridge Reprobate.

This video shows just how close the fire was to the convoy of vehicles making their way out. And it shows how orderly the procession was. Flames everywhere, hot cinders falling on the hood, and people are still breaking and letting others in. Your turn, my turn...

http://youtu.be/aC2iPvXAggM

Right on, Fort Mac! You'll come back. And the rest of Alberta will pitch in, as always.

Human

The videos are incredible. I would be completely freaking, driving through (and seemingly towards) fire like that.

The orderly procession of evacuating vehicles is incredible - kind of Canadian - being so polite. I did hear one guy who said he was thinking of just driving on the sidewalk to get out faster.

My nephew just rec'd his evac order from one of the work camps. My sister is frantic. She can't watch the coverage - it's the stuff of worst nightmares for moms. They don't have their vehicles in camp so they have to be bussed out to the car park location and then I guess they head to the next nearest unaffected town.

The spirit of the people, and the strength, is incredible. As is the courage of the firefighters - headed in while everyone else is fleeing (understandably, and as ordered). It is inspiring how people come together at times like these - with the other communities opening their arms to evacuees, fundraising already to help towns rebuild, all the good thoughts expressed by people across Canada and from our US pals, and the determination of the people affected to return and rebuild.

People are inspiring. Every day. All over the world.

All the best to Alberta in their time of suffering and need. The rest of Canada will be there for them!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2016 05:01PM by Nightingale.

It's been on Australian news.

We know bushfires. You can't leave it as late as these people did. You can't drive with smoke and ash.

That could turn horrific. I hope everyone gets out safely

At least two young people have died in traffic accidents so far. :(

Nobody has a result of the fire itself. However, some of the evacuations have been scary late - such as only 20 minutes before homes are engulfed by the raging flames. It's a nightmare just looking at videos of it.

time to send in the Mexican Marines !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdiyabWwo7A

7AM this morning the fire had grown to 1/4 million acres. RCMP are escorting 50 vehicles convoys southbound to Edmonton from the camps north of Fort Mac where 18,000 evacuees had taken refuge. It will take 4 days to get them all to Edmonton.

RB

I don't know if everyone has seen the photos of the pets being evacuated on the flights out along with their owners. Kudos to Canadian North Air and West Jet for doing the compassionate thing.

http://www.dogheirs.com/elleng/posts/7243-airlines-bend-the-rules-so-pets-can-fly-coach-with-their-owners-fleeing-wildfires

I hope it ends soon.

Highway 63 opened to essential workers. The city's infrastructure has to be stabilized and the oil sands plants will be back online after enough workers show up to run them. The Red Cross are issuing debit cards to eligible families and individuals so the C$60M raised so far can be direct deposited in accounts for evacuees. The recovery has begun.

RB