Premier Rachel Notley is removing people to safe areas. She is focused on the people of Alberta. She is doing a great job. This fire is the nightmare from hell. I hope she will investigate the source of the fire after the emergency ends. It is not clear any evidence to the beginning of the fire can be discerned at this point, but, hopefully further ignitions can be prevented.
It is my estimate open oil sands, drought and heat simply ignited the oil. It is going to be difficult to bring the fire under control.
May 6, 2016
They also hope (click here) that the only motorway to the south will become safe on Friday to move the remaining 17,000 people, who are in danger of becoming trapped.
The entire city - more than 88,000 people - was evacuated three days ago. Most fled south but some went north.
The fire in the province of Alberta has grown to 850 sq km (328.2 sq miles).
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze using helicopters and air tankers.
The fire, which covers an area almost the size of Calgary, Alberta's largest city, has slowed down and is now heading away from Fort McMurray....
The first chance of any rain is Saturday night. The fire will create it's own weather system. The air is so hot the chance of any real rain is slim. The air will evaporate the rain. It has to be a substantial storm to extinguish this fire. The only way to extinguish an oil fire is to smother it. The area of this fire makes those efforts nearly impossible. The immediate emergency for the people being effected is the first concern.
The first chance of any rain is Saturday night. The fire will create it's own weather system. The air is so hot the chance of any real rain is slim. The air will evaporate the rain. It has to be a substantial storm to extinguish this fire. The only way to extinguish an oil fire is to smother it. The area of this fire makes those efforts nearly impossible. The immediate emergency for the people being effected is the first concern.
