Thomas is among the more than 80,000 people who were forced to flee their homes as wildfires tore through her northern Alberta community, reducing entire neighbourhoods to ash and curbing oil production at Suncor Energy Inc. and other companies.
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But as the province declared a state of emergency, it was clear the situation that had forced the evacuation of 80,000 people was “unstable”, as Scott Long of Alberta Emergency Management told reporters.
“They just want everybody to have enough time and not be like Fort McMurray where all of a sudden the fire’s on you before you leave”.
They say Lac-Megantic residents were grateful for the support they received in the wake of the 2013 rail disaster that killed 47 people and wiped out much of the city’s downtown core.
At the same time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said people shouldn’t automatically blame climate change on the fires.
“I’m pleased to announce that in addition to the Government of Canada providing future assistance through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, the government will also be matching individual charitable donations made to the Canadian Red Cross in support of disaster relief”, Mr. Trudeau said to applause. “It’s really extreme conditions”, Flanagan said, citing the low humidity and lack of green vegetation, combined with windy conditions that increased the intensity of the fire.
Fire has intermittently blocked the only route south toward major cities, so thousands of evacuees drove north toward oil sands facilities and a few small settlements but no route out.
Blues forward Scottie Upshall is a Fort McMurray native.
She said she is safe and sound two hours south of Fort McMurray now.
Fabian says she’s glad to help and everyone has been thankful.
“This measure has been put in place to ensure that Canadians who are eligible for EI and unable to work because of the fires can access EI benefits when they need them most”, the government said.
All large oilsands sites have emergency crews and plans for fires, including procedures to shut in facilities to minimize damage. Officials have had to re-evacuate fleeing residents, while relocating its emergency headquarters some 200 miles south of the city.
“We had to literally drive through smoke and fire, vehicles littered all over the sides of the road, and we had to drive as fast as we could and breathe as little as we could because the smoke was so intense and we could feel the heat from inside the vehicle”, she said.
The fire, which until Monday had been contained south of the oil city, was pushed towards it by winds of 50 kilometres per hour and quickly reached homes.
“It’s just devastating. My stomach is just in knots even thinking about it out there”, said Jeremy Douthwright, who worked in Fort McMurray for three years before returning to New Brunswick a year ago to run an auto fix shop.
“You could add five times the number of firefighters, but you can’t get all the embers”, he said.
Shell Canada (RDSa.L) also said it would open its oil sands camp to evacuees and was looking to use its airstrip to fly out non-essential staff and accommodate displaced residents.
“I couldn’t control my tears”, said Thomas, 46, who fled the flames with her husband and two children.
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Changing weather patterns prompted the mass evacuations. There had been 2,500 evacuees registered at the local recreation centre, although it was not known how many were still there when they were told to get on buses for Edmonton further to the south.
