Ft McMurray AB wildfire

[Jim2]

Prayers for our northern neighbors in Ft McMurray AB Canada. A massive wind driven wildfire is currently burning the southern portion of the town. The entire town of 80,000 residents has been ordered evacuated. With only one road out of town, that's not an easy task. Most of the large oil sands production facilities are north of town and not in danger yet.

[wnytaxman]

I can not even imagine the devastation that fire is causing. Our thoughts and prayers to all in Ft. McMurray.

[jacwjames]

Saw coverage on the evening national news. Looks bad. Hope they get it out but once something like this gets going it's hard to get under control.

[MSHappyCampers]

I really feel sorry for those folks! It would be tough leaving with a few belongings not knowing if there will be anything to come back to!

[rlott2k]

Horrible situation made 10x worse by high winds today.

[99-Am.Star]

My prayers out for them.

[dennis45]

Here is a clip that gives you an idea of what it was like getting out of Ft McMurray.

Fort McMurray dash cam video shows harrowing drive from town | CTV News

[slickest1]

Our Daughter and family moved out of Ft. Mac. several years ago but my son in laws family is still there. So far 2 of them have lost their homes and they are all evacuated.
They got away with the clothes on their backs but they are safe and alive.
Pretty devastating to lose everything!!
The one young couple that lost their home, he just went into remission from Leukemia and had just returned home from months of treatments. So sad!!

[Skip426]

News lists 1600 structures destroyed , over 80,000 evacuated, and the closest evac center had to be evacuated too; the thousands who were there had to move again.

DW and I , were among the 30,000 evacuated during the Kelowna BC wildfires, we were out for 3 weeks. We had family within 30 miles and got our trailer out, but we had 3 days warning. Don't know what I'd have done with only mins to get out. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[Ramets]

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

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Ramets

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

I believe it is possible, and given the amount of heat generated by the wildfire anything combustible will start burning.

On another note , a wildfire in the Fort St. John , BC area has closed a section of the Alcan Highway.

Unless northern BC and AB get days of rain there is no controlling these fires.

[Skip426]

50% growth in the fire overnight , due to strong winds, and more growth expected today.

Alberta Government announced a province wide camp fire ban and a ban on recreational OHV use. They are sure that this fire was human caused .
Without significant rain this fire and others across the north of AB & BC , will grow for weeks . I expect that the BC government will follow suit , with fire bans soon.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Ramets

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

I think it is highly unlikely the oil sands will be ignited. I do not believe the concentration of oil is high enough to burn very long if it does ignite. The majority of the oil is buried beneath the economical depth for recovery and is recovered in situ.

Alberta's Oil Sands About the Oil Sands

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Skip426

50% growth in the fire overnight , due to strong winds, and more growth expected today.

Alberta Government announced a province wide camp fire ban and a ban on recreational OHV use. They are sure that this fire was human caused .
Without significant rain this fire and others across the north of AB & BC , will grow for weeks . I expect that the BC government will follow suit , with fire bans soon.

I heard the ban is on all fires including BBQ that use solid fuel.