Residents evacuated as fires threaten Canada oil sands town

reporting from FORT MCMURRAY, Canada —  A fire that forced the evacuation of the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, could get worse Wednesday, but no injuries have been reported, officials said.

More than 80,000 residents were ordered to flee as flames continued to make their way into the city, destroying whole neighborhoods.

Firefighters were working Wednesday to protect critical infrastructure, including the only bridge across the Athabasca River and Highway 63, the only route to the city from the south.

Forestry manager Bernie Schmitte told reporters overnight that there was still danger from “very high temperatures, low relative humidities and some strong winds.”

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called it the biggest evacuation in the history of the province. Residents were panicked.

“When you leave ... it’s an overwhelming feeling to think that you’ll never see your house again,” said resident Carol Christian, who drove to the evacuation center with her son and their cat.

“It was absolutely horrifying when we were sitting there in traffic. You look up and then you watch all the trees candle-topping ... up the hills where you live and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God. We got out just in time.’ ”

Fort McMurray is the heart of Canada’s oil sands region. The Alberta oil sands are the third largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Most oil sands projects are well north of the community, while the worst of the flames were on the city’s south side.

“We appreciate that some of you have lost properties. We have people working here right now that have lost property, too,” Fire Chief Darby Allen said.

Medical staffers who were evacuated to Noralta Lodge, 16 miles north of Fort McMurray, were ready when a local woman went into labor.

Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake saluted the news on Twitter: “Time for good news. I hear a baby (maybe 2) was born tonight and delivered by @NoraltaLodge! Full service evacuation rocks! #bewellbabies”

The blaze had burned since Sunday and seemed on its way to being neutralized Tuesday morning, but it overwhelmed firefighters when winds shifted quickly and drastically in the midafternoon to the southwest of the city.

Pictures and video on social media depicted a hellish scene of fire jumping roads and burning debris pitched into the paths of cars as frantic residents, lined up bumper to bumper, scrambled and fumbled to find their way through the thick gray haze.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that he spoke with Notley and said the federal government stood ready to help. He urged residents to follow evacuation orders.

As the afternoon wore on and the fire intensified, more and more sections of the city were ordered evacuated until the entire community was ordered out after 6 p.m.

Oil sands work camps were being pressed into service to house evacuees as the raging wildfire emptied the city.

Officials were also evacuating nonessential staff at Suncor’s base plant. It is 18 miles away and one of the closest facilities to the city. Spokesman Paul Newmarch said evacuees were moving into the plant’s work camps.