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Wildfires decimate Slave Lake in Alberta Wildfires ravage Slave Lake in Alberta, Canada
(about 17 hours later)
Wildfires fuelled by high winds have blazed through more than a third of a town in Canada's Alberta province, police say, forcing thousands to flee. Wildfires fuelled by high winds blazed through more than a third of a town in Canada's Alberta province, forcing thousands to flee, officials have said.
Numerous homes and public buildings were destroyed in Slave Lake, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said. Slave Lake Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said hundreds of firefighters converged on the town to help battle the blazes.
Slave Lake's 10,000 residents were ordered to leave on Sunday, and more than two-thirds had fled by Monday. Emergency officials were knocking on doors on Tuesday to ensure all the town's 7,000 residents had evacuated.
No reports of injuries or fatalities have been reported, according to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
More than 100 wildfires were burning in Alberta as of Monday morning, and roughly 40 of those fires are considered out of control, local media reported. Alberta Municipal Affairs said the town's residents were ordered to evacuate on Sunday and that 95% of the town was empty by Monday, with only essential or firefighting staff remaining.
Devastating destruction
Alberta cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk said it was the largest single-day displacement of people in the province's history.
Ms Pillay-Kinnee, who toured Slave Lake on Monday afternoon, called the destruction in the town "truly devastating", adding that it would "take a while to rebuild".
"It's heart-wrenching as people lose their homes, their livelihood. For myself, I'm just trying to remain focused on the task at hand," Ms Pillay-Kinnee told the Calgary Herald newspaper.
Wildfires breached the town late on Sunday, reducing many homes and businesses to collapsed timber.
The government centre and library were destroyed by the blazes, while the police station and hospital remained unaffected.
By Monday evening, a blaze east of Slave Lake had consumed about 20 sq km (7.7 sq miles), and a fire south of the town had burned 150 sq km (57.9 sq miles).
More than 100 wildfires were burning in Alberta as of Monday, and roughly 40 of those fires were considered out of control, local media reported.
Fires forced oil companies in Alberta, the country's largest energy producing province, to shut off thousands of barrels of output.Fires forced oil companies in Alberta, the country's largest energy producing province, to shut off thousands of barrels of output.
There were reportedly 125 firefighters in Slave Lake early on Monday, with an additional 100 firefighters en route.
The Canadian government has deployed 1,000 firefighters, 100 helicopters and 20 water bombers to battle wildfires throughout the entire province.The Canadian government has deployed 1,000 firefighters, 100 helicopters and 20 water bombers to battle wildfires throughout the entire province.
A total of 206 sq miles (331 sq km) of land had been burned as of Monday morning.
"It's heart-wrenching as people lose their homes, their livelihood. For myself, I'm just trying to remain focused on the task at hand," Ms Pillay-Kinnee told the Calgary Herald newspaper.
"It's truly devastating. I've never seen anything like this before. It's going to take a while to rebuild our community."