Forest fire in Fort McMurray

Prayers for sure for the folks affected and for safety for the firefighters and anyone involved.

 

The wildfire burning in and around Fort McMurray has grown substantially today due to high winds that gusted to as much as 70 km/h overnight. Government officials acknowledge numbers associated with the fire can fluctuate as information becomes available. Here's a look at where things stand at this time:

Size: 850 square kilometres.

Structures burned: 1,600 (as of Wednesday afternoon). No updated figure available.

Total number of people displaced: More than 80,000.

Evacuees: 25,000 in oilsands work camps to the north of the city. The rest headed south to Anzac, Lac La Biche, Edmonton and Calgary, although it's unknown how many opted to camp, stay with family or go directly to hotels.

RCMP officers deployed: 300.

Firefighters on scene: About 350. Another 100 expected from Ontario.

Weather: Expected high of 16 C with low humidity. Strong winds from northwest gusting to 40 km/h.

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Megan Leach

 

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I just watcheda video from ft mcmurray that showed whole neighborhoods burned to the ground. It looked like a scene from a nuke blast. So sad. Still praying for the folks up there.

Not the video I watched but similar.

 

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Works for me now.

Terrifying

 

Those poor folks, can you imagine. Think of this next time some minor inconveinence makes you think you're having a bad day.

 

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this was posted this morning. I think we all should stop and take stock of really matters in our lives.

In Fort McMurray, Canada, a massive wildfire is raging. The entire population, over 80,000 people, have been evacuated.

In the midst of the chaos, One Fort McMurray citizen, John MacIsaac, wrote a touching account of the harrowing experience:

"I am laying here in the dark on the floor of a camp room. My family was fortunate enough to get a room but I know not everyone was as lucky. Right now I am so jealous of my children because they have no fears, no sense of loss about everything. It's actually calming for me to reassure my daughter that her toys don't matter, and that the few personal items we got out are more than we need.

It's funny because as I stare in the dark I keep telling myself that the words running through my head aren't true. The words "it's all gone" won't pass. But I keep reminding myself of what I know to be true more than ever. I have everything in this room with me. When I was leaving our home I looked all around and tried to decide what was important enough to take and the answer was nothing. Nothing mattered except my family. It still doesn't. And I feel so grateful because when I tried to leave town south bound I was delegates from my wife and my daughter Olivia, and I had my daughter Emma with me. I got to a point where I couldn't go further and the highway was covered in flames and I didn't think we would make it out. I looked at my angel and I have never felt such a fear. Such dread thinking I wouldn't be able to save what I hold dear. That's what I can't shake. What I can't let go. And while I trembled and shook; my little girl in all her innocence smiled at me and was laughing and wanted to play.

I'm writing this for two reasons. One because I need to let some of this out of my head, and two because I hope it will make everyone squeeze your kids a little tighter this week. Read them an extra bed time story. Give them an ice cream and watch them smile. Call your sister you are angry at and make up, or your brother you haven't had time to chat with in a while and say hi. Tell your loved ones they are loved and make time for a family dinner. Everything else is bullchit. It does not matter.

McMurray has given me everything. My wife. My children. My career. My friends. My greatest memories and milestones. And tonight as I write I still have all those things.

As I left town tonight I saw emergency workers still working. Risking their lives to get us all out. Police. Paramedics. Firefighters. I saw camp workers going up to the desk of their camp trying to hand in their keys so families could have a place to stay. People smiling and people in tears, and children running and laughing. It gives me hope that people are better than we think. More caring and selfless. Kind and compassionate. We are young and love our home. We have built it together as it has built us and our families."

‪#‎LoveWhatMatters‬

 

Very powerful!

 

very touching Woodwidow thanks for posting.

 

Forest Fires are horrifying experiences. The sky turns orange for as far as you can see. The air has a horrid odor and breathing is not the best. Been there, done that in southern CA. What is especially unnerving is that the avenue of egress is also blocked. Lets hope there is some control gained so that the folks can safely be evacuated. I don't know what will happen to all the animals. Wild ones, farm animals and pets. They have little to work with when it comes to defending themselves from fire. God help all of them.

 

savemoney this will make you smile a bit. West Jet is a local airline that has reached out to help. Of course you would never be allowed to take your pooch with you in the seating area of a jet or plane but west jet has waived that rule and is allowing pets to fly with their owners. There are lots of pictures of this happening. Nice to see.

Westjet ♥ - Krista Forbes Embertson UE | Facebook

 

That helps a lot. Many lives saved there. I hope the horses etc can find their way to safety. I know there are some who won't leave unless their animals can leave with them.

 

to be honest I dont know if beetle kill goes that far but I tend to think not. The forests are very dry though. With El Nino we had a dry short winter, and also one of the driest Aprils on record, often April has some good soakers. It seems like the plants are ahead by almost a month this year. Ive heard it being called the perfect storm where all the things that need to align to make this happen did. I felt kind of bad because we had a couple days of cool rainy weather here and they missed it.

 

Before and after photo. Hard to imagine.

 

I appreciate the post, but cannot like it. Thanks.

 

The second most striking thing in that pic (besides the obvious devastation) is that the utility lines are still up - just seems so strange (although I'm sure they are toast inside)