Fort McMurray, a small town in Canada that's getting wiped out by a wildfire...
more pics here
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/alberta-wildfire-footage-photos-videos_us_572370f3e4b01a5ebde55d5b
A raging wildfire ripping through the Canadian city of Fort McMurray has sparked a state of emergency, engulfing 25,000 acres of land in flames and forcing at least 88,000 Albertans out of their homes — marking the largest fire evacuation in the province’s history.
More than 1,100 firefighters are scrambling to contain 49 fires, including seven that are “out of control,” Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announced in a press conference on Thursday. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
Some 1,600 buildings in the oil sands community have already burned to the ground, but officials say the damage won’t stop there. With scorching temperatures and powerful winds pushing the blaze into other parts of the region, experts told CBC News that the only hope to extinguish the inferno is a change in the weather from the current dry, windy conditions.
The “catastrophic” wildfire continues to withstand all efforts to control it, explained Bernie Schmitte, an official at Alberta’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry.
Darryl Dyck/Bloomberg via Getty Images
More than 88,000 Albertans have fled their homes in the province’s largest fire evacuation in history.
“While the full extent of the damage isn’t yet known, we certainly do know that for those who have been affected this fire is absolutely devastating,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday. “It’s a loss on a scale that is hard for many of us to imagine,” he added, noting the federal government’s support, which includes matching all individual donations to the Canadian Red Cross for the cause.
Many Albertans fleeing the danger zone have shared remarkable footage on social media of embers and ashes raining down on the streets as they make their escape. The hashtag #AlbertaStrong was created as a way to support those affected by the wildfire.
Take a look at these unbelievable photos and videos captured by residents in the fiery northern Alberta communities.
look like they were driving through Hell itself
Watch from NASA satellites as the Fort McMurray fire spreads
The speed with which the fire in and around Fort McMurray is spreading has caught many off guard. As of Thursday afternoon it had consumed 85,000 hectares, up from 10,000 the day before. One way of understanding its ferocious growth is to compare it in size to other cities, which we did here. But space offers a different perspective entirely.
The following GIF animation draws on satellite images provided by NASA Worldview captured over five days starting May 1. The red dots show fires and thermal anomalies and reveal just how far the fire was able to spread in a matter of days.
The following GIF animation draws on satellite images provided by NASA Worldview captured over five days starting May 1. The red dots show fires and thermal anomalies and reveal just how far the fire was able to spread in a matter of days.
Best wishes to all the residents / locals there. Very intense. Know 2 families that are directly affected. Both have evacuated. The one family has been offline for 3 - 4 days now. The other's a former coworker who moved there about 5 years ago. Her birthday was 2 days ago and their home burned down THE SAME DAY. They found out by checking video footage and overhead shots on Youtube. Their neighborhood was completely up in flames.
If I recall correctly ... the radio news report said $30 million's been donated to the Red Cross thus far for relief efforts. The government's also setting aside $100 million of which they hope to allot $1200 - 1250 to each adult, and $500 for each dependent within the coming week.
I just want to say
Wild fires are natures way of recycling...
Lots of cacs in that part of canada are just like the racist
red necks in sun down towns in southern states in fact belee dat..
still a beautiful place to visit. IN THE SUMMER!!
Wild fires are natures way of recycling...
Lots of cacs in that part of canada are just like the racist
red necks in sun down towns in southern states in fact belee dat..
still a beautiful place to visit. IN THE SUMMER!!
@Helico-pterFunk be safe
http://www.wwe.com/article/kevin-owens-tyler-breeze-fort-mcmurray-wildfire-fundraiser
$57,565 of $100k
Raised by 1,778 people in 8 days
Thanks, fam'. We're one province over and safe. Got some family members in and around Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary). Talked to the friend with the family and they noted they're currently living in a motel. The former coworker's pretty devastated still ... whole neighborhood was wiped out.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/goog...amaged-fort-mcmurray-neighbourhoods-1.2902356
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/effort...ay-evacuees-with-abandoned-vehicles-1.2902544
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/alberta-government-releases-fire-damage-surveillance-app-1.2902819
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/fort-m...art-in-massive-telephone-town-halls-1.2903145
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/effort...ay-evacuees-with-abandoned-vehicles-1.2902544
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/alberta-government-releases-fire-damage-surveillance-app-1.2902819
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/fort-m...art-in-massive-telephone-town-halls-1.2903145