Fort McMurray burning

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FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – The entire city of Fort McMurray is now under a mandatory evacuation order.

Scott Long of Alberta Emergency Management says the flames have burned a number of structures, but he can’t say how many.

The fire worsened dramatically in a short time and many residents had little notice to flee.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the province is doing all it can to ensure everyone’s safety.

Oilsands work camps are now being pressed into service to house evacuees.

“We’ve made our work camp available to staff and their families who have been evacuated and need a place to stay,” says Cameron Yost of Shell Canada.

“We are looking at getting non-essential people out by aircraft,” says Yost, who added Shell’s camp could accommodate hundreds of evacuees.

Most oilsands projects are well north of the community, while the worst of the flames were on the city’s south side.

Shell’s camp is about 95 kilometres away and remained operating late today.

Pictures posted on Twitter show long lines of traffic and skies darkened by thick smoke as flames lick the edges of roads.

 

Crews had appeared to be making progress controlling the blaze — which had been burning since the weekend — but the situation worsened quickly today.

The province is sending 100 more firefighters and a giant helicopter that can dump more than two thousand litres of water at a time to the area.

Karin Ackerfeldt is a mother living there and joined us on the air today. You can hear more about her terrifying story below.

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