Fort Mac Wildfire Thread

[DuffMan]

I golf about 20 minutes north of Edmonton and a couple of holes are along highway 28, last night was a steady stream of vehicles coming from Ft. Mac.

[Azure]

BreannaKarstensSmithVerified account
‏@BreannaCTV
A convoy of the National Disaster Response Team just showed up in #ymm #ymmfire

[PaperBagger'14]

Employees at the Noralta camp are allowed to leave now. My friend is heading home but it's still a very slow go.

[pylon]

I have the weekend off. I'm wondering if any hands on help might be required? I was thinking of packing up, jumping in my truck and heading up that way. I wouldn't even know where to start though..

[Knut]

^ they are recommending to not do that right now

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by pylon

I have the weekend off. I'm wondering if any hands on help might be required? I was thinking of packing up, jumping in my truck and heading up that way. I wouldn't even know where to start though..

Thought of the same thing. I hate feeling so helpless watching this.

They don't want any physical help though. There are groups of volunteers that go in afterwards though to help residents sift through the debris

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by pylon

I have the weekend off. I'm wondering if any hands on help might be required? I was thinking of packing up, jumping in my truck and heading up that way. I wouldn't even know where to start though..

Nothing at all you can do in the moment, anyone heading up like that will just be in the way. Even once all the fire is out it'll be days before residents are allowed to assess damage. Would guess we're a week away from any of that, at a minimum.

There seems to be more than enough water, food, and shelter available to all at the moment.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

I didn't get confirmation either. I wonder how many people donations aren't getting through?

I sent the text donation at 8AM this morning and just got the confirmation now, at 10AM. Think they're just getting slammed (which is good!) so be patient and you should get through eventually!

[Azure]

News Talk 770 ✔ ‎@NewsTalk770
#ymmfire latest: 49 blazes burning (7 out of control). 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 22 air tankers & more.

[peter12]

As I said yesterday, the coordination efforts just needed some time.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Azure

BreannaKarstensSmithVerified account
‏@BreannaCTV
A convoy of the National Disaster Response Team just showed up in #ymm #ymmfire

Might not be the appropriate emotion given the circumstances, but that looks so cool and badass.

Good job Canada on being such an amazing country and having the pieces in place to respond so quickly.

[Southside]

Will be making the family donation later today. $300. We also have a kennel to donate.

[Azure]

Sadly Albertans will be will aware of what CTF2 is and what it does as they have been heavily involved in the natural disasters that have happened in the last few years.

[Madman]

Current situation
- A provincially declared state of emergency for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is in effect.
- Fire conditions remain extreme, with 18 new starts yesterday. A total of 49 wildfires are burning, with seven considered out of control, 12 being held, 23 under control, and seven turned over to the responsible parties.
- Cooler temperatures of 16 C are predicted, but lower humidity and winds at 25 kilometres, gusting to 40 kilometres per hour, make weather a significant factor.
- More than 1,110 firefighters, 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers are fighting the fires.
- Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for Fort McMurray, Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation and Mackenzie County near High Level. Residents of evacuated areas should not attempt to return home.
- Emergency gas and diesel are temporarily available along Highway 63.
- Albertans can call 310-4455 for information and stay up to date on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps.

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

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Azure

BreannaKarstensSmithVerified account
‏@BreannaCTV
A convoy of the National Disaster Response Team just showed up in #ymm #ymmfire

Oh those guys are going to destroy that fire.

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Azure

BreannaKarstensSmithVerified account
‏@BreannaCTV
A convoy of the National Disaster Response Team just showed up in #ymm #ymmfire

That unit is wicked. We went to one of those disaster days things they hold every year and got a tour of it. It's an amazing unit.

Airdrie sent a truck and some guys, they left yesterday. Multiple fundraising efforts and collection points occurring throughout the city for water and the basics and also pet items. We donated online pretty much the moment the RC opened that up. We'll drop some pet stuff off at one of the collection points and we registered for fostering animals yesterday and space the day before that.

God damn this province makes me proud to live here.

[Azure]

Mark Spector ‏@SportsnetSpec 60m60 minutes ago
Now that's the Battle of Alberta we like. @NHLFlames and @EdmontonOilers each donate $100K to Ft. Mac yesterday.
Well done.

[Madman]

All 9 CFL teams combined and donated $50,000 as well.

[calgarygeologist]

AMP Radio and that group of stations is doing a toy drive for kids of Fort Mac. I just stopped by to drop off some new LEGO and one of the bike shops from Calgary had a fewctrucks there dropping off new bikes. It looked like they had about 100 kids bikes. It was great to see especially because I know how much my kids love their bikes. My kids would be extremely bummed out if they lost their bikes or if we had to leave them behind so this will make lots of people happy.

[Azure]

Great idea putting together collection points for people to donate stuff. Will be really needed once the people evacuated show up at their staging areas.

Bottled water is huge as well. Its bloody hot up there, and there are tons of people in the various camps.