Fort McMurray evacuated.

[Steve M]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ ... -1.3563977

[Fozzer]

I picked that up on BBC News first thing this morning!

It always surprises me, after watching programs like; "Ice Road Truckers", etc, I always think that Canada is full of freezing cold ice and snow most/all of the year, being so close to the North Pole. so things like "Wildfires" always takes me by surprise!... ...!

Following the progress on the news!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36200986

Paul.

[Steve M]

I've been following it on reddit because there are a lot more personal stories and photos. Also more up to date than the news.
https://www.reddit.com/r/canada/comment ... ga_thread/

[expat]

I have been following this in the UK news. They were talking about evacuating an entire town of 80,000 people. If that is the case, it gives a real perspective of the size and danger....?

Matt

[Steve M]

I have been following this in the UK news. They were talking about evacuating an entire town of 80,000 people. If that is the case, it gives a real perspective of the size and danger....?

Matt

Only one main highway through town. Going north takes you to the work camps that are just about full of fire refugees. Some of the oil companies have chartered free flights to take people south to Edmonton Al. Going south, Edmonton is 300 clicks away, meaning if your gas tank wasn't full you will be stuck somewhere in between but likely out of danger. If you were unfortunate enough to lose your home you could well come back to find your place of employment burned down too.

[Flacke]

One of my Brothers owned a commercial building in Fort MacMurray. He and his partners sold it. Yesterday he phoned the present owner and found him in his vehicle with his whole family trying to escape. They were unable to get to the highway due to gridlock on the roads. The building and the mans business burned down. My Brother was pretty upset after that phone call. I would not be surprised if my Brother and his partners get together to help out that man and his family.

[pilotwin7]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NFoj8d0ouE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0369Vcr3Ti4[/youtube]

[ViperPilot]

Hopefully this big bird will enter the fight, and lend a helping hand...

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases ... 63418.html

Thoughts and prayers to everyone in the affected areas.

Alan

[Fozzer]

When Mother Nature decides to vent her power and anger, I doubt that mere Human Beings can do very much about it!

Emptying a bucket of water on a full-blown forest wildfire is a forlorn hope.

Paul.

[Steve M]

A lady pulling her horse trailer was stalled in traffic so she pulled over, unloaded and continued on. Horses do not like fire and smoke. The best way to control them is to show them you are on their side.

[logjam]

We evacuated our little town of 1500 people during a wildfire. I would never have believed the heat and the wind at that time. Flaming brands were dropping on our roof from the fire which was 3/4 mile away. We were lucky the fire took another direction. My heart reaches out to all of those unfortunates in Ft. McMurray. I did notice though that the UK news papers rated women without knickers as more news worthy. I suppose that's hot news over there.