Fort Mac Wildfire Thread

[Madman]

Current situation

- The Alberta government has declared a provincial state of emergency.
- The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect and affects approximately 80,000 people. Residents should not attempt to return home.
- A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Canadian Forces for air support to assist with transportation as needed.
- More than 250 firefighters, helicopters and air tankers are currently fighting this fire.
- The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have both declared a State of Local Emergency.
- Alberta Transportation is escorting a fuel tanker along Highway 63 to assist stranded motorists. Please stay with your vehicle unless your situation requires you to leave.
- Since April 1, there have been 329 wildfires in the province. All but two have been contained.

Source: http://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xI...42C499FF0DE4CF

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by KevanGuy

Looks like it's getting pretty close to the airport. You csn see it encroaching on the right hand side. Here is the link with the Webcam:

http://www.metcam.navcanada.ca/hb/pl...&cam=65&lang=e

*****EDIT: The picture below is being updated live*****

[calgarygeologist]

I just heard on CBC that the fire is encroaching on downtown Fort Mac and that crews aren't certain if they can keep the fire back.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Madman

Current situation

- The Alberta government has declared a provincial state of emergency.
- The mandatory evacuation order remains in effect and affects approximately 80,000 people. Residents should not attempt to return home.
- A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Canadian Forces for air support to assist with transportation as needed.
- More than 250 firefighters, helicopters and air tankers are currently fighting this fire.
- The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation have both declared a State of Local Emergency.
- Alberta Transportation is escorting a fuel tanker along Highway 63 to assist stranded motorists. Please stay with your vehicle unless your situation requires you to leave.
- Since April 1, there have been 329 wildfires in the province. All but two have been contained.

Source: http://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xI...42C499FF0DE4CF

Listening to a live update right now and early on in the update, they indicated that there has been a fatality accident in/around the Fort Mac area. They didn't have many details about it at the time they went live, just that they'd been given information that an accident had occurred, there were fatalities and they did not know if there is a connection to the evacuation.

[tete]

I saw a pic on twitter of what looked like a semi with lumber on it on fire.

[TomLeeMC]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Listening to a live update right now and early on in the update, they indicated that there has been a fatality accident in/around the Fort Mac area. They didn't have many details about it at the time they went live, just that they'd been given information that an accident had occurred, there were fatalities and they did not know if there is a connection to the evacuation.

Erin ChalmersVerified account
‏@ChalmersErin
Just passed a fiery crash on Hwy 881 b/w Lac La Biche & Conklin. Fire has now started in trees. AVOID THIS AREA!!!!

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by tete

I saw a pic on twitter of what looked like a semi with lumber on it on fire.

I believe this is the accident they referred to in the live update.

511 Alberta ‏@511Alberta 7m7 minutes ago

Update: Hwy881 closed from Conklin to Hwy858 just north of Lac La Biche due to multiple MVC's and wildfire. Avoid the area.(4:01pm) #ABRoads

[KevanGuy]

nm

[tete]

Edit: Looks like KG's is updating live now, I'll edit my post from the same camera.

[KevanGuy]

Oh whoops, didnt notice the one pic link is updating live.

[tete]

Huh, neither did I. I'll go edit mine.

[Hack&Lube]

I can't load that web cam anymore.

[KevanGuy]

This isn't good:

[skudr248]

Wow, from an hour ago (the live cam) to now, absolute insanity

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I just heard on CBC that the fire is encroaching on downtown Fort Mac and that crews aren't certain if they can keep the fire back.

Man, this post really hit me hard. Like, the entire town is at risk. If major infrastructure gets destroyed (hospital, water treatment plants, etc) then that's long term livelihoods of these people getting destroyed. Not just their homes, but their city and their jobs. ****. I'm so choked up right now. Please dear god give them some breaks. Please. Rain, shifting winds, anything.

[Hack&Lube]

http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/...ay-devastation

[blueski]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Man, this post really hit me hard. Like, the entire town is at risk. If major infrastructure gets destroyed (hospital, water treatment plants, etc) then that's long term livelihoods of these people getting destroyed. Not just their homes, but their city and their jobs. ****. I'm so choked up right now. Please dear god give them some breaks. Please. Rain, shifting winds, anything.

You can add the entire GDP/Economy of AB and even Canada taking a big hit too. Sucks all round. Not a local event.

[Nehkara]

I'm worried about the airport...

[Fuzz]

The silver lining is that rebuilding is going to require a lot of labourers, like those out of work...It's not like the city will be abandoned.

[KevanGuy]

Static image below. Hard to even process.




EDIT: Wow, the next one is even more incredible. This is just unreal to see.