FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — The entire population of the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, has been ordered to evacuate from a wildfire that officials said destroyed whole neighborhoods.
More than 80,000 residents have been ordered to flee as flames continued to make their way into the city on Tuesday. Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called it the biggest evacuation in the history of the province. Residents were panicked. Highway 63 is the only road out of the city and flames jumped the road.
Fire chief Darby Allen said they did not have an estimate of the number of homes destroyed, but said the fire is burning in several areas in the city’s south end and had destroyed a mobile home park.
There have been no reports of serious injuries and Allen said right now the priority was to keep everyone safe. Allen said they have requested military assistance and expect the army and air force will start sending out troops within a couple of days.
Fort McMurray is the heart of Canada’s oil sands region. The Alberta oil sands are the third largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Most oil sands projects are well north of the community, while the worst of the flames were on the city’s south side.
Allen said they are trying to maintain the crucial infrastructure in the city, including the only bridge across the Athabasca River and Highway 63, the only route to the city from the south.
“We appreciate that some of you have lost properties. We have people working here right now that have lost property, too,” he said.
Medical staffers who were evacuated to Noralta Lodge, 26 km north of Fort McMurray, were ready when a local woman went into labor.
Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake saluted the news on Twitter: “Time for good news. I hear a baby (maybe 2) was born tonight and delivered by @NoraltaLodge! Full service evacuation rocks! #bewellbabies“ — AP
