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| Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees head south in mass road convoy | Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees head south in mass road convoy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A convoy of evacuees from wildfire-ravaged Fort McMurray in western Canada began a long drive south on Friday morning after being stranded by the catastrophic blaze since Tuesday in work camps north of the city. | A convoy of evacuees from wildfire-ravaged Fort McMurray in western Canada began a long drive south on Friday morning after being stranded by the catastrophic blaze since Tuesday in work camps north of the city. |
| A mass airlift of residents that began was also due to resume, a day after 8,000 people were flown out as the wildfire grew tenfold. | A mass airlift of residents that began was also due to resume, a day after 8,000 people were flown out as the wildfire grew tenfold. |
| A helicopter led an initial evacuation convoy of 400 vehicles after Alberta Highway 63, the only major road south, was declared safe. The convoy will pass through Fort McMurray where the fire, which threatened to engulf huge areas of the arid province of Alberta, has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. | A helicopter led an initial evacuation convoy of 400 vehicles after Alberta Highway 63, the only major road south, was declared safe. The convoy will pass through Fort McMurray where the fire, which threatened to engulf huge areas of the arid province of Alberta, has torched 1,600 homes and other buildings. |
| Officials said 25,000 people had taken shelter in the oilsands work camps to the north of Fort McMurray when the out-of-control blaze engulfed the city in Canada’s energy heartland, burning down whole neighbourhoods. The fire has forced a precautionary shutdown of some oil production, driving up global oil prices. | Officials said 25,000 people had taken shelter in the oilsands work camps to the north of Fort McMurray when the out-of-control blaze engulfed the city in Canada’s energy heartland, burning down whole neighbourhoods. The fire has forced a precautionary shutdown of some oil production, driving up global oil prices. |
| The Alberta government, which declared a state of emergency, said more than 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers were fighting a total of 49 wildfires, with seven considered out of control. | The Alberta government, which declared a state of emergency, said more than 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers were fighting a total of 49 wildfires, with seven considered out of control. |
| Three days after the residents were ordered to leave Fort McMurray, firefighters were still battling to protect homes, businesses and other structures from the flames. | Three days after the residents were ordered to leave Fort McMurray, firefighters were still battling to protect homes, businesses and other structures from the flames. |
| “The beast is still up,” said local fire chief Darby Allen in a video message to residents posted on Thursday evening. | “The beast is still up,” said local fire chief Darby Allen in a video message to residents posted on Thursday evening. |
| Chad Morrison, Alberta’s manager of wildfire prevention, said rain was needed. | Chad Morrison, Alberta’s manager of wildfire prevention, said rain was needed. |
| “Let me be clear: air tankers are not going to stop this fire. It is going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain.” | “Let me be clear: air tankers are not going to stop this fire. It is going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain.” |
| No rain clouds were expected around Fort McMurray until late Saturday, with a 40% chance of showers, according to online forecasts by Environment Canada. | No rain clouds were expected around Fort McMurray until late Saturday, with a 40% chance of showers, according to online forecasts by Environment Canada. |
| The Alberta premier, Rachel Notley, said in a press briefing on Thursday night that it was not possible to know when residents would be able to return to the city. “The damage to the community of Fort McMurray is extensive and the city is not safe for residents. It is simply not possible, nor is it responsible to speculate on a time when citizens will be able to return. We do know that it will not be a matter of days.” | The Alberta premier, Rachel Notley, said in a press briefing on Thursday night that it was not possible to know when residents would be able to return to the city. “The damage to the community of Fort McMurray is extensive and the city is not safe for residents. It is simply not possible, nor is it responsible to speculate on a time when citizens will be able to return. We do know that it will not be a matter of days.” |
| Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, described the week’s harrowing events as the largest fire evacuation in Alberta’s history. | Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, described the week’s harrowing events as the largest fire evacuation in Alberta’s history. |
| “Homes have been destroyed. Neighbourhoods have gone up in flames. The footage we’ve seen of cars racing down highways while fire races on all sides is nothing short of terrifying,” he said. The Alberta community looked “like a war-torn corner of the world instead of our own backyard,” he added. | “Homes have been destroyed. Neighbourhoods have gone up in flames. The footage we’ve seen of cars racing down highways while fire races on all sides is nothing short of terrifying,” he said. The Alberta community looked “like a war-torn corner of the world instead of our own backyard,” he added. |
| Officials warned that the communities of Anzac and Gregoire Lake Estates about 30 miles (50km) south of Fort McMurray were “under extreme threat” late on Thursday, as the flames spread to the south-east. | Officials warned that the communities of Anzac and Gregoire Lake Estates about 30 miles (50km) south of Fort McMurray were “under extreme threat” late on Thursday, as the flames spread to the south-east. |
| Related: 'Nothing short of terrifying': Alberta wildfires grow eight times in size | |
| Fire has intermittently blocked the only route south toward major cities, so thousands of evacuees fled north toward oil camps and a few small settlements. Notley said some 4,000 people had already been airlifted to the cities of Edmonton and Calgary late on Thursday. | Fire has intermittently blocked the only route south toward major cities, so thousands of evacuees fled north toward oil camps and a few small settlements. Notley said some 4,000 people had already been airlifted to the cities of Edmonton and Calgary late on Thursday. |
| Erica Decker, who was sheltering in Edmonton with her young family, described having to flee her home in Fort McMurray. | Erica Decker, who was sheltering in Edmonton with her young family, described having to flee her home in Fort McMurray. |
| When she spotted a small circle of orange flames flickering in the trees outside, she knew she had just minutes left in the house she had always described as her dream home. | When she spotted a small circle of orange flames flickering in the trees outside, she knew she had just minutes left in the house she had always described as her dream home. |
| “As we pulled out of the driveway, we could see the flames reaching our front lawn,” said Decker, her voice shaking as she fought back tears. “We knew we wouldn’t have anything to go back to.” | “As we pulled out of the driveway, we could see the flames reaching our front lawn,” said Decker, her voice shaking as she fought back tears. “We knew we wouldn’t have anything to go back to.” |
| Walls of flames flanked the road as they made their way out of the town. “It was something out of a movie,” she told the Guardian. “It was absolutely apocalyptic. There were vehicles stranded everywhere. The sky was black and orange. There were – and are still – so many people trapped.” | Walls of flames flanked the road as they made their way out of the town. “It was something out of a movie,” she told the Guardian. “It was absolutely apocalyptic. There were vehicles stranded everywhere. The sky was black and orange. There were – and are still – so many people trapped.” |
| On their first night in Edmonton, her two-year-old daughter kept asking for her own bed and her toys. “There was nothing we could do for her,” she said. “Its unbelievably hard to watch a child go through that and not understand why they can’t have the things they want.” | On their first night in Edmonton, her two-year-old daughter kept asking for her own bed and her toys. “There was nothing we could do for her,” she said. “Its unbelievably hard to watch a child go through that and not understand why they can’t have the things they want.” |
| Soon after, her worst fears were confirmed. Images from Fort McMurray showed an empty space where her home once stood in the neighbourhood of Beacon Hill, the scorched front steps the only trace of the bay-windowed house. “I don’t think there’s anything for me to return for,” she said. | Soon after, her worst fears were confirmed. Images from Fort McMurray showed an empty space where her home once stood in the neighbourhood of Beacon Hill, the scorched front steps the only trace of the bay-windowed house. “I don’t think there’s anything for me to return for,” she said. |
| On Thursday, frustration for those stranded up north was growing, with some venting on social media sites, demanding answers. | On Thursday, frustration for those stranded up north was growing, with some venting on social media sites, demanding answers. |
| One Twitter user posted a message saying: “NO ONE IS TELLING US ANYTHING!! We’re just sitting in a camp praying to get out!! Give us answers!!! Please.” | One Twitter user posted a message saying: “NO ONE IS TELLING US ANYTHING!! We’re just sitting in a camp praying to get out!! Give us answers!!! Please.” |
| Officials said that with the fire moving to the south-east, they were also hoping to be able to begin a ground evacuation from the north on Friday morning. | Officials said that with the fire moving to the south-east, they were also hoping to be able to begin a ground evacuation from the north on Friday morning. |
| Although the cause of the fire was unknown, officials said tinder-dry brush, low humidity and hot, gusting winds left crews unable to stop the massive conflagration. | Although the cause of the fire was unknown, officials said tinder-dry brush, low humidity and hot, gusting winds left crews unable to stop the massive conflagration. |
| The blaze, which erupted on Sunday, grew from 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) on Wednesday aided by high winds, scorching heat and low humidity, to some 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres) on Thursday, an area roughly 10 times the size of Manhattan. | The blaze, which erupted on Sunday, grew from 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) on Wednesday aided by high winds, scorching heat and low humidity, to some 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres) on Thursday, an area roughly 10 times the size of Manhattan. |
| Related: Wildfires in Canada force evacuation of Fort McMurray – in pictures | |
| Unseasonably hot temperatures combined with dry conditions have transformed the forest in much of Alberta into a tinder box before the usual spring rains which turn the area green. Morrison said the cause of the fire was being investigated but it had started in a remote forested area and could have been sparked by lightning. | Unseasonably hot temperatures combined with dry conditions have transformed the forest in much of Alberta into a tinder box before the usual spring rains which turn the area green. Morrison said the cause of the fire was being investigated but it had started in a remote forested area and could have been sparked by lightning. |
| Bill Patzert, a climatologist at Nasa, said the El Niño global weather system had brought Alberta a mild winter and low snowpack. He said the fire had begun at a time between the snowy season and springtime rains, making the region especially vulnerable. | Bill Patzert, a climatologist at Nasa, said the El Niño global weather system had brought Alberta a mild winter and low snowpack. He said the fire had begun at a time between the snowy season and springtime rains, making the region especially vulnerable. |
| “In a way, it’s a perfect storm,” Patzert said. “It’s been warm, it’s been dry and windy. It’s the in-between period before you’re in the full bloom of spring.” | “In a way, it’s a perfect storm,” Patzert said. “It’s been warm, it’s been dry and windy. It’s the in-between period before you’re in the full bloom of spring.” |
| The winds gave the city a brief reprieve on Thursday by driving the fire to the south-east, away from populated areas. But officials warned that the unpredictable weather could quickly shift again. | The winds gave the city a brief reprieve on Thursday by driving the fire to the south-east, away from populated areas. But officials warned that the unpredictable weather could quickly shift again. |
| At least 680,000 barrels per day of crude output was offline by Thursday evening, according to Reuters calculations, or roughly 20% of Canada’s crude production. The outage is expected to climb as major players in the region cut production. | At least 680,000 barrels per day of crude output was offline by Thursday evening, according to Reuters calculations, or roughly 20% of Canada’s crude production. The outage is expected to climb as major players in the region cut production. |
| Related: Have you been affected by the Alberta wildfires? | |
| Athabasca Oil said on Thursday that rapidly advancing fires in the south of the city were behind its decision to shut down its Hangingstone oilsands project and evacuate all personnel. In a statement, the company estimated that the fire front was just 3 miles (5km) away from its facility. | Athabasca Oil said on Thursday that rapidly advancing fires in the south of the city were behind its decision to shut down its Hangingstone oilsands project and evacuate all personnel. In a statement, the company estimated that the fire front was just 3 miles (5km) away from its facility. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Notley said a water tanker plane had slid off the runway in another part of the province. Police said the two pilots had survived, but were taken to hospital as a precaution. | Notley said a water tanker plane had slid off the runway in another part of the province. Police said the two pilots had survived, but were taken to hospital as a precaution. |