Ft McMurray AB wildfire

[okmunky]

Those photos posted above are of what I envision hell to be. My prayers go out to all involved who are truly experiencing hell on earth.

[emuller1]

Originally Posted by Ramets

I wonder if the tar sands could be ignited if the fire went that way?

The tar sands are not in Ft McMurray but the oilsands could if there is enough heat.

[Pete1985]

How are things going up their?

[99-Am.Star]

Latest Info from the net:

Current situation

• Fire conditions remain extreme in the province.
• A total of 17 wildfires are burning: one out of control, one being held, nine under control and six turned over to the responsible parties. There were four new fire starts overnight.
• There are 1,733 firefighters, 104 helicopters, 154 pieces of heavy equipment and 26 air tankers currently battling the fires.
• The Fort McMurray wildfire is now approximately 241,000 hectares.
• There are 509 wildland firefighters, 31 helicopters and 13 air tankers working on the Fort McMurray fire.
• The wildfire is approximately 13 kilometres from the Saskatchewan boundary.
• Flare-ups have occurred near Anzac and MacDonald Island Park.
• New distribution centre added at NAIT.

[Jim2]

Originally Posted by Pete1985

How are things going up their?

The wildfire itself is still burning out of control in less populated areas now. Through the heroic work of hundreds of well trained fire fighters and some favorable weather changes, the town of Ft McMurray is no longer actively burning. But there are many hot spots nearby that could flare up again if the winds increase. The whole area remains in extreme fire danger.

Its hard to say there was any good outcome when over 2000 structures burned to the ground, but it could have been much worse. Almost a miracle that no lives were lost (other than 2 teens in a car crash getting out of town). Most of the downtown Ft McMurray business district survived and many of the residential areas escaped with only partial damage. But some residential areas in the southern & SW parts of town were 100% burned down.

Even with the current reduced risk, it sounds like it will be many weeks before the residents are allowed back. The power grid is damaged and the water system is damaged. Although the oil sands facilities north of the town were not damaged, they remain mostly inactive due to their workers being evacuated.

The Canadian Red Cross is collecting & coordinating donations.

[Pete1985]

Thanks for the up date.

[Skip426]

Latest news on the area.
In Fort McMurray crews are at work restoring services; power& water; city officials are trying to contact , store operators , and service station owners , to allow them back into town first to get their businesses, re-supplied and operational.
Spoiled food , will have contaminated fridges in every part of the city, including the stores.
A friend, who's son knows his home never lost power , has been told to duct tape his fridge closed ; without opening it ; and move it out for disposal.
If that's the case , then 10's of thousands of fridges will have to be taken into town to get the homes livable again.

[okmunky]

Originally Posted by Skip426

A friend, whose son knows his home never lost power , has been told to duct tape his fridge closed ; without opening it ; and move it out for disposal.
If that's the case , then 10's of thousands of fridges will have to be taken into town to get the homes livable again.

That makes me gag just to think about it. I imagine there will need to be a massive smoke odor removal from carpets and anything made of porous materials as well. I thought tornados in Oklahoma required a lot of clean up work. Fires of this magnitude must be many, many times worse.

[Skip426]

Well the fire is still growing and slowly moving east, crossing the Sask. border, towards the small town of La Loche. Smoke from the fire has been tracked on satellite photos to FL. and beyond. Area burnt is 500,000 sq. kms. an area the size of PEI , Canada's smallest province. Hopefully a cold front that has brought snow and freezing temps to northern B.C., and the Alcan highway, continues to the east and helps firefighters control the blaze. Air quality in Fort McMurray is so bad that those working out side to restore power and gas services are wearing respirators.

June first , is the tentative date for the first residents to start back to their homes. Store owners are being taken back in to check their equipment and inventory. Those being told they will be among the first in have been told to have enough food with then to feed themselves for seven days. But if their fridges and freezers are damaged, from food going bad , keeping a seven day supply would be difficult.

[Skip426]

Correction, the fire is 507,000 hectares and that is close to 2,000 square miles.
You'd think that after all this time a Canadian would have a better grasp on the metric system.

Convert distance : Kilometer,Mile,Nautical mile....

[Pete1985]

Thx for the update

[Skip426]

A staggered return, to Fort McMurray, scheduled to start tomorrow; but for many who's homes weren't damaged by the fire there is bad news . Toxic ash in the neighborhood has rendered many homes unsafe.
Homes destroyed by the fire are being sprayed down with a covering coating to prevent the spread of the ash and fumes.
Last report on the extent of the fire was 2300 square miles.
Some rain and cooler temps have aided the fire fighters; including some from South Africa; as they follow the fire to the east.

[Gordon Dewald]

Listening to the radio this morning as the news follows the first day or re-entry. A few things are not going as planned but it is the start of bringing the city back to life.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Listening to the radio this morning as the news follows the first day or re-entry. A few things are not going as planned but it is the start of bringing the city back to life.

The number of people involved and the logistics , considering the distances from the evacuation centers, to get to Ft. McMurray; there are going to be problems . I hope the people involved have the patience to deal with the situations and the emotional stress , of returning to an area of such destruction.