The entire population of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada has been ordered to abandon their homes after a wildfire ravaging a nearby forest moved into the area. The fire has already destroyed homes in several neighborhoods.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of about 80,000 people, including the entire city of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo said Wednesday.
The blaze has already destroyed 80% of Fort McMurray’s Beacon Hill community, RM Wood Buffalo said. Well over a dozen homes burned down, but the full breadth of the destruction remains unclear.
A mandatory evacuation notice was issued for the whole city on Tuesday after the wildfire began spreading uncontrollably.
“This is a nasty and dirty fire,” Fire Chief Darby Allen of Fort McMurray fire department told reporters. “There are certainly areas within the city that have not been burned, but this fire will look for them and it will find them and it will want to take them. And our challenge today is to prevent.”
The wildfire now covers about 18,500 acres (7,500 hectares), officials said.
Paul Spring said his neighborhood went down in flames.
“The whole subdivision is gone,” the longtime pilot and firefighter said. “Things are pretty horrible right now. We’ve been out flying and surveying the damage.”
Spring is the president of Phoenix Heli-Flight. Despite his loss, he hasn’t stopped working. He said his team will fly firefighting missions, dropping water and assisting crews on the ground.
“As long as we keep the people safe, we can rebuild the houses,” he said.
Despite the catastrophic images, no injuries have been reported.
Strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity will again create “explosive conditions” on Wednesday, said Bernie Schmitte, forestry manager in the nearby municipality of Wood Buffalo. Schmitte added that more resources are being assembled across Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tweeted a message of support to the residents of Fort McMurray, calling on them to follow evacuation orders.
My thoughts are with people affected by the fire in Fort McMurray tonight. Stay safe and remember to follow evacuation orders. #ymmfire
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 3, 2016
Trudeau promised that the federal government would help those affected by the disaster. “While the full extent of the damage isn’t yet known, we certainly do know that for those who have been affected this fire is absolutely devastating. It’s a loss on a scale that is hard for many of us to imagine,” Trudeau said in Ottawa.
The intensity of the fire can be assumed by looking at these photos shared on Twitter:
#ymmfire Another collection of unbelievable images. Red Cross Alberta https://t.co/GekV1VAk2Z #ymm pic.twitter.com/XCsKRLa507 — Michel Gosselin (@MGBlastroid) May 4, 2016
Photos my sister took of the #ymmfire in Fort McMurray , can’t believe this happen pic.twitter.com/9hrfBlLwf5
— Vince♛ (@Vince_Sin) May 4, 2016