Tens of thousands of residents have been forced from their homes as a result of the blaze.
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But the authorities warned that the next 24 hours would be critical.
For those outside of Alberta who want to help, the Canadian Red Cross has launched an appeal for Fort McMurray relief donations. “It’s a loss on a scale that is hard for many of us to imagine”, Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.
“The worst of the fire is not over”, Bernie Schmitte, Alberta’s wildfire manager for the Fort McMurray area, said. Drivers plowed through thick clouds of black smoke as flames shot up nearby.
“Quebec will be at Alberta’s side in these very tragic circumstances”. “These are catastrophic wildfires”.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo website says the Fort McMurray Fire Department has more than 130 firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics.
That’s how many callers to the newsroom described the scene in Fort McMurray as the fled for their lives when a wildfire began destroying the oilsands city.
“My harrowing drive evacuating #ymm praying for my friends”, Stuffco tweeted.
“I was panicking, to be honest with you, we could see the ash – a rain of ash, the cars were full of ashes”, said Fatima Mian, a single mother of three who raced to pick up her children from school before fleeing the city on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday morning there were 100 firefighters on the ground supported by 10 helicopters and 17 air tankers.
Massive blaze sweeps through oil sands region and prompts biggest evacuation in the history of Alberta state. However, there have been no reports of deaths or injuries, officials said Wednesday.
Since 8:00 am (1400 GMT) Wednesday, flights to the city have been suspended.
Playing Game 3 against the Dallas Stars in the second round of the playoffs was a welcome diversion from thoughts about the devastation wrought by a raging wildfire that has forced the evacuation of about 88,000 residents from the city surrounded by wilderness in the heart of Canada’s oil sands region.
Donations to the Canadian Red Cross are also welcome, he added.
The province saw record temperatures of almost 30C.
The fire quickly expanded, with blazes forming in several places and forcing the city’s evacuation.
Jamie Coutts’ harrowing experiences in Alberta five years ago are serving him well as he helps battle wildfires that have devastated entire neighbourhoods in Fort McMurray.
“The situation in Fort McMurray is not stable”. Alot of my co-workers have definitely lost their homes. Brett said when he opened the door of his house, smoke and flames were all around the neighbourhood, so he jumped on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and made his way through a traffic jam out of the city.
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A large motor home park had also been destroyed, leaving charred and smoldering remains, according to TV footage.
