More evacuations in Canada as huge wildfire multiplies in size

A huge wildfire near Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, that has grown to five times its initial size has spread south, forcing more evacuations on Thursday after 88,000 people fled the city in the nation's energy heartland.

The uncontrolled blaze, which has consumed swathes of the city, has shut some oil production in the area, driving up global oil prices and affecting projects and pipelines across the heavily forested region.

Authorities said fire conditions remained extreme, with low humidity and gusting winds.

Officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for the Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation communities, located about 50km south of the battered city of Fort McMurray, which was evacuated on Tuesday.

The winds pushed flames toward the local airport, with webcam images showing black smoke engulfing the airport late on Wednesday evening.

Officials said the airport had sustained mild damage and remained open for limited use.

“What people in that region have gone through in the last couple of days is literally hell on earth,” Rona Ambrose, a Canadian opposition leader who is from the province told parliament, fighting back tears.

Officials on the scene were forced to evacuate a makeshift emergency operations centre for the second time in less than a day, and the spreading flames threatened community centres feeding and housing evacuees from Fort McMurray.

Airlift

Evacuee

Jason Blair

said he only had enough time to grab a few belongings before driving north to a Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNRL) facility.

“For some reason I really wanted my son’s first pair of shoes,” he told CBC television.

CNRL said it had airlifted some 2,600 people over the last 24 hours to Edmonton and Calgary, including its own workers, to make room for more evacuees.

Fire had intermittently blocked the only route south toward major cities, so thousands of evacuees drove north toward oil sands facilities and a few small settlements but no route out. Frightened evacuees north of the city took to Twitter, asking when they would be able to drive south and whether areas to the north were safe.

Forgotten

“We’re just sitting in a camp praying to get out!! Give us answers!!! Please,” Twitter user @jennimac780 told the regional government.

No evacuation has been ordered for north of the city.

“We haven’t forgotten about you and you’re safe,” said the government on Twitter.

The forecast suggested cooler temperatures and a possibility of rain, offering hope that controlling the blaze could become easier.

Authorities said there had been no known casualties from the blaze itself, but fatalities were reported in at least one vehicle crash along the evacuation route.

Thousands bunked down for the night in arenas, hockey rinks and oil work camps that were often short of fuel and food.

Firefighters have been unable to stop the wildfire, which has charred 18,500 acres, since it erupted on Sunday and exploded in ferocity.

Hot, dry, windy weather has made the massive wildfire all but impossible to control. The entire city of Fort McMurray was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday, and some 1,600 structures had been destroyed, Alberta premier Rachel Notley said.

– (Reuters)