NGC Northern Alberta Wildfires

[canuck750]

Another day of the massive wildfire scorching across northern Alberta, approximately 320 square miles in area has devastated the City of Fort McMurray and surrounding area, over 80,00 people have been evacuated and over 1600 structural fires and growing. Thousands of people are without homes or livelihoods. I have spent a lot of time working on projects in the city of Fort McMurray and surrounding area and I am shocked to see the total destruction of so much infrastructure, early estimates are over 10 billion in property loss. Amazingly only two deaths which were a result of a traffic accident during the evacuation. Over 10,000 people are being airlifted out of areas north of the city where they fled from the fire. The ferocity of this massive forest fire is humbling to say the least. A lot of good hard working people will need a lot of support to rebuild their lives.

http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/breaking/fort-mcmurray-wildfire-may5/

If you can donate the Red Cross is accepting donations.

The fire continues to rage and threaten more communities.

[Matteo]

Ron Michaud is a member here, we met up a few times in Alaska and Yukon. Best of luck to him and his fellow town folk.

[rocker59]

I've been following it a little bit on the news.

Some pretty harrowing images of gridlocked traffic with fire on both sides of the road, and embers raining down.

I hope y'all get some rain up there, soon, to help alleviate this disaster!

[oldbike54]

 Puts things in perspective , on lots of levels .  Best from Oklahoma

 Dusty

[Steph]

 Hope it rains soon and stop this inferno.

[lucydad]

My brother living in Billings, MT said the smoke is horrible that far south.

Huge tar sand mining area.  Prayers for rain and safety. 

[Dharma Bum]

It's very humbling when Mother Nature comes to town.  Four years ago we lost 346 homes when a fire came through the western edge of Colorado Springs and 486 more a year later in the northern portions of the city.  Our prayers are with our northern neighbors.

[rodekyll]

I have ridden through the area and can imagine the scene.  I don't know what they can do to find safety except to continue in an 'away' direction.  I'm impressed that such a sweeping evacuation can happen without mayhem and casualties -- close to 90,000 people moving at once and only two fatalities due to the evacuation.

Between that and the Ft. St. John fire, Canada is having a tough early season.  Smoke is blowing into Alaska, which is significant, since the prevailing winds tend to push it the other way.  We've been following the drama on the news and our best wishes are with the poor folks in harm's way. 

[Arizona Wayne]

Out of control raging wild fires are pure HELL !!!  They make their own weather and can move so fast it's mind blowing.  I pity all the people and animals.     

[davedel44]

Prayers and best wishes for those folks.  News footage is disturbing.  Folks pulling up and leaving their whole lives behind.  Gotta feel for em

Dave
Galveston

[Yukonica]

Heartfelt thoughts for the evacuees.
Those of us in similar locations, remote city in boreal forest with limited access, we need to be serious about planning an exit.
I have nine big dogs to move in a hurry. List begins: dogs, documents, HDD server, tent/tarp, camp oven, water filter, spare fuel, .....

[rodekyll]

In Sitka we all have a 'go bag' ready to toss in the car or boat and beat a hasty retreat.  It's generally got shelter, tarp, food, fuel, a firearm, fishing pole, tools, clothing, and medical supplies.  We don't worry about fires with our 120" of rain a year, but we get skittish around tsunamis.

Yukonica -- will we be seeing you at the national?

[Yukonica]

In Sitka we all have a 'go bag' ready to toss in the car or boat and beat a hasty retreat.  It's generally got shelter, tarp, food, fuel, a firearm, fishing pole, tools, clothing, and medical supplies.  We don't worry about fires with our 120" of rain a year, but we get skittish around tsunamis.

Yukonica -- will we be seeing you at the national?

Not unless it is being held north of 60. I hear they are all crazy down there... :)