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Workers evacuated from Alberta oil camps due to wildfire

Meanwhile in the city, about 300 people, mostly utility workers, have assembled at MacDonald Island, while another 300 were moved to the hospital, but there is no evacuation.

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All camps and production facilities requiring the use of the Aostra Road are to evacuate.

In Fort McMurray itself, hundreds of firefighters along with dozens of pieces of heavy equipment were able to hold the line on Monday as the wall of flames grew.

UPDATE: 5:35 p.m.

“All evacuees are to head south on Highway 63 if possible”. “They are engaging in precautionary evacuations of non-essential personnel, but the fire has not yet moved that close to the facilities”.

The Grey Wolf Lodge is north of the Ruth Lake Camp.

Noralta Lodge provides accommodation for workers in the oil industry.

There are 12 oil sands camps in the area.

“This remains an active fire zone, with significant air-quality concerns that may delay recovery work and a return to the community” Notley said.

Officials said the air quality in the city had deteriorated, with the air quality health index, usually measured on a scale of 1-10, at 38 on Monday.

Data from Natural Resources Canada show that more than 1,400 fires have erupted this year compared with a 10-year-average of 1,070.

“Those are not under mandatory evacuations at this time”, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said.

A press conference has been called for Tuesday morning at the field in order to announce more details regarding the arrangement.

The Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo said the fire was moving 30 to 40 metres per minute and was expected to burn six kilometres in two hours.

Today, all proceeds from meals sold at Wok Box will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross, to help with relief efforts Fort McMurray.

There is still no timetable for when the roughly 80,000 residents of Fort McMurray will be allowed back in.

Pipeline company Enbridge had evacuated the Cheecham terminal on May 4 but on Friday said it was staffed again. Some pipelines in and out of the terminal are operating.

The province has ordered up 32 kilometres of fencing in 100 truckloads to secure damaged and unsafe areas.

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VICE News has been following the wildfires plaguing northern Alberta. One prompted the evacuation of 100 to 200 people from a hamlet northwest of Edmonton.

Edmonton Wildfire