The entire population of a northern Alberta city has been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire whipped by high winds engulfed homes and sent ash raining down on residents.
All of Fort McMurray, with the exception of Parson’s Creek, was under a mandatory evacuation order on Tuesday, said Robin Smith, press secretary for the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo in the Canadian province.
More than 80,000 residents were being directed to evacuation centres outside Fort McMurray, but journeys were made difficult as the main road out of the city – highway 63 – was licked by flames.
One evacuation centre, on an island in the Athabasca river, had filled up, Smith said. Entire neighbourhoods were destroyed, emergency officials said, but there were no reports of injuries.
More than 100 provincial and municipal firefighters had been brought in, with helicopters and aircraft used to drop water and fire retardant, while bulldozers were digging firebreaks. Overnight on Tuesday, fires continued to burn in several locations across the city’s south.
Alberta premier Rachel Notley called it the biggest evacuation in the history of the province and said officials were doing all they could to ensure the safety of all residents, including the possibility of an airlift for residents with medical issues. All hospital patients were evacuated.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said the government would offer support to the city.
Brian Jean, the leader of Alberta’s opposition party and a resident of the city, said much of downtown Fort McMurray was facing destruction: “My home of the last 10 years and the home I had for 15 years before that are both destroyed.”
Russell Thomas, a resident and former municipal councillor, said he
All of Fort McMurray, with the exception of Parson’s Creek, was under a mandatory evacuation order on Tuesday, said Robin Smith, press secretary for the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo in the Canadian province.
More than 80,000 residents were being directed to evacuation centres outside Fort McMurray, but journeys were made difficult as the main road out of the city – highway 63 – was licked by flames.
One evacuation centre, on an island in the Athabasca river, had filled up, Smith said. Entire neighbourhoods were destroyed, emergency officials said, but there were no reports of injuries.
More than 100 provincial and municipal firefighters had been brought in, with helicopters and aircraft used to drop water and fire retardant, while bulldozers were digging firebreaks. Overnight on Tuesday, fires continued to burn in several locations across the city’s south.
Alberta premier Rachel Notley called it the biggest evacuation in the history of the province and said officials were doing all they could to ensure the safety of all residents, including the possibility of an airlift for residents with medical issues. All hospital patients were evacuated.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said the government would offer support to the city.
Brian Jean, the leader of Alberta’s opposition party and a resident of the city, said much of downtown Fort McMurray was facing destruction: “My home of the last 10 years and the home I had for 15 years before that are both destroyed.”
Russell Thomas, a resident and former municipal councillor, said he
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