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Fort McMurray, Alberta is under a mandatory evacuation order after forest fires raged and took over the city.
The mandatory evacuation order meant that about 80,000 people were told to flee their homes.
Forestry manager Bernie Schmitte has warned that the worst of the blaze “is not over.”
He told a late night news conference that today’s forecast calls for very high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.
At the same news conference, fire chief Darby Allen said there were no reports of serious injuries, adding that military assistance is expected to arrive in the Alberta city within a couple of
days
In the meantime, Highway 63, the main route to the city from the south, has been clogged with vehicles as residents flee their city.
The blaze began started on Sunday and it appeared firefighters would get it under control yesterday morning, but the winds shifted quickly pushed the flames along a ravine and into the city.
Numerous communities and facilities in the surrounding area have opened their doors for the evacuees and work camps associated with oilsands projects have been quickly prepared for Fort McMurray residents.
Politicians of all stripes have sent their condolences and words of support to the city, including Alberta’s Opposition leader.
Thousands flee Fort McMurray in the largest fire evacuation in Alberta's history #news https://t.co/7D2f35b7NF pic.twitter.com/Iu1t0ZMUk4
— TheStarPhoenix.com (@TheStarPhoenix) May 4, 2016
Wildrose Leader Brian Jean — the member of the legislature for the area– says his home along with businesses that have been in his family for three generations were lost.
Agencies/Canadajournal
