Alberta people

[awick14]

I don't know if we have anyone here from Fort McMurray but if so can you please check in when you can.

For everyone that hadn't seen any Canadian news, the entire city of Fort McMurray had been evacuated. This is possible the largest evacuation in Canadian history. There are 80,000 people misplaced from their homes.

There are multiple reports that the city's hospital has already gone up on flames, as well as many businesses and homes.

Any spare T&P for everyone in that area and their families tonight.

www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-164870-4-.htm#164870

Edit: I see I didn't include that this is because of a forest fire.

[Deleted]

My husband is up there, and we have friends who live right in town. I've been sick to my stomach all day over this.

[awick14]

@ygmg- my first thought was trying to remember where your husband worked. I know it was somewhere in northern Alberta but wasn't sure where.

((Hugs)) is he trying to get home?

[Deleted]

Yes, he's waiting for a knock on the door to fly out. He said their camp is full of evacuees right now and they're worried about food and water. They're pretty safe at the moment, but the wind is supposed to pick up overnight. Haven't heard anything from our friends. Ugh.

[loira]

I'm sorry, @ygmg . Have you heard from your H? You guys are in my thoughts. Edit: I see you have. 

I don't think I know anyone up there right now - my family is all in Calgary (and I'm currently in BC).

I'm legitimately terrified for this summer if the fires are already this bad.

[awick14]

@ygmg- I hope he can get home soon.

loira- i am also terrified. The northern half of BC has been dealing with fires too and it's so scary. I hope this isn't showing us what all summer is going to be like.

[starlily]

This is awful.

[bugandbibs]

My goodness, how awful. My heart goes out to everyone effected.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2016 0:02:11 GMT -5 @gracie6414 said:

My one cousin has checked into Facebook as safe (what a great feature!), haven't heard from the other one.

There's also a lady with a few acres well out of the danger area offering up her land to anyone who needs to crash be it in car, rv, or tent, she's also offered up some fenced land for displaced animals and her friend is opening the doors to her boarding kennel for free to anyone who needs it.

She is amazing.

Watching the footage just makes me cry. It's just devastating. As if the town hasnt been through enough this last year.

[heygrey]

We have friends who work there, but are currently home and safe. A few of my students were panicked today because their dads are currently working in Ft Mac.

Fuck. Last summer was bad enough. I'm terrified for this year.

[kitkat2613]

I had heard that the hospital had burnt, from multiple reports, but then there was a post I saw on twitter, from the municipality, saying that it was not on fire. So that is good if they managed to save it. Some of the pictures from Ft McMurray are so terrifying, people driving right beside walls of fire to get out of the city. It's only the beginning of May and the fires are so bad already since the winter was so dry. We have 30 or so more fires already in northern SK too, than we did at this time last year. Scary. It's so dry, and people still do silly things like toss cigarette butts out car windows.

ETA:  Here's some of the pictures that have been floating around facebook/twitter.  www.buzzfeed.com/ishmaeldaro/fort-mcmurray-wildfires?utm_term=.yrDlrb1Mo#.ix5PJb58A

[aprilsails]

Oh my. I live in Ontario and hadn't heard about this yet. I don't know anyone inFort Mac right now but many members of my family have worked there over the years. That is a terrifying fire.

[sequins]

I have a friend who lost her home I hope your husband comes home soon GOAB.

[gibbinator]

I just learned about this this morning from dh. So scary. The city with around the highest cost of living in Canada is burning to the ground.
So far no fatalities from what I understand. Hopefully it stays that way. That's great that "neighbours" are helping the displaced families.

[bananapancakes]

I have a friend who is a teacher up there who has checked in as safe on FB but has been evacuated with her 3 week old baby. I can't even imagine.

[nachos]

There have been two babies born during this chaos last night, but I missed where they were delivered.

We're in Labrador, and a few years back we had some bad fires. I remember thinking how serious it could be because there's only one road into and out of town. Seeing this in Fort Mac is exactly the nightmare I had at the time.

Thankfully, my family and friends have checked in safe as well. One is still waiting to be moved (flown) out of his work camp, which is now filled with evacuees.

[olive]

May 4, 2016 7:24:57 GMT -5 nachos said:

There have been two babies born during this chaos last night, but I missed where they were delivered.

We're in Labrador, and a few years back we had some bad fires. I remember thinking how serious it could be because there's only one road into and out of town. Seeing this in Fort Mac is exactly the nightmare I had at the time.

Thankfully, my family and friends have checked in safe as well. One is still waiting to be moved (flown) out of his work camp, which is now filled with evacuees.

I read that they were both born at an oilfield camp, Noralta Lodge.  Apparently both healthy as are the moms.  

[nachos]

May 4, 2016 7:28:03 GMT -5 olive said:

May 4, 2016 7:24:57 GMT -5 nachos said:

I read that they were both born at an oilfield camp, Noralta Lodge.  Apparently both healthy as are the moms.  

Glad to hear that! I can't even imagine going through all of that, and having a baby in the middle of it all!

[fkaholly]

My heart hurts seeing this happen to ft. Mac. Like gibbinator, said the most expensive city to live in is burning down before our eyes, I can't even imagine how devastating and helpless the residents feel. With the oil field the way it currently is I can't imagine many people will return if they've lost their home.

It's so scary to see how all the gas stationts, grocery stores, restaurants are wiped out of supplies for miles in every direction with so many people evacuating.

[qcinoct]

so frightening. GOAB, I hope your H gets home safely

[kitkat2613]

Thankfully, no reports of anyone being hurt during the evacuation or fire fighting efforts, although entire neighbourhoods have burnt down. Hopefully the weather co-operates with them today. Was supposed to be gusting winds and no rain.

[Deleted]

I heard from my friends and they're safe. H has been stuck at the company airport since 3 am. I have no idea where that is in relation to the fire and he's not responding to texts, so I'm just hoping he's sleeping or something.

[lolalolalola]

This is my hometown and it breaks my heart. Hopefully there continues to be no reports of fatalities.

[miniroller]

Oh my gosh- I immediately prayed for those affected & those working to help. @ypmg after seeing this thread your H is on my list, too. Thanks for keeping us updated. Good thoughts & comforting hugs to all.

[kitkat2613]

May 4, 2016 9:55:06 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

I heard from my friends and they're safe. H has been stuck at the company airport since 3 am. I have no idea where that is in relation to the fire and he's not responding to texts, so I'm just hoping he's sleeping or something.

That's good that your friends are safe.  Don't know which camp he's at, and it's fine if you don't want to say, but if he's south of the city, it's likely safe, since the fire was moving sort of north-east yesterday.  And lots of the north camps are a bit west and quite a few kms north of the city too. 

[Deleted]

May 4, 2016 10:11:54 GMT -5 kitkat2613 said:

May 4, 2016 9:55:06 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

I heard from my friends and they're safe. H has been stuck at the company airport since 3 am. I have no idea where that is in relation to the fire and he's not responding to texts, so I'm just hoping he's sleeping or something.

That's good that your friends are safe.  Don't know which camp he's at, and it's fine if you don't want to say, but if he's south of the city, it's likely safe, since the fire was moving sort of north-east yesterday.  And lots of the north camps are a bit west and quite a few kms north of the city too. 

I have no idea how spread out things are up there, so this is reassuring. Thank you! I just googled and it appears the little airport he's at is north east, but definitely a safe distance out of the way, so that's good.

[kimibrighteyes]

It is terrible. All of the patients at the hospital were evacuated yesterday and flown to Edmonton facilities.

[awick14]

I hope your husband has been sleeping and he will be flown home soon. Even if he can get to a city close by. If he ends up my way let me know I'm not working today I can help. @ygmg.

If anyone needs anything I am in BC but I am able to help in anyway possible.

I hope this fire is under control soon.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2016 10:34:03 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

This is so awful! I'm from the Maritimes, which Fort McMurray draws a lot of their population from so I'm seeing a lot about this on my social media.

I saw that the DND has already made a request to the government to send in troops and resources so hopefully there is a swift emergency response.

I don't think it will. From what I'm hearing the fire is burning too hot for the trained firefighters to do much. And they are limiting their use of bombers because of conditions.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2016 15:47:41 GMT -5 @gracie6414 said:

May 4, 2016 15:36:45 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

I don't think it will. From what I'm hearing the fire is burning too hot for the trained firefighters to do much. And they are limiting their use of bombers because of conditions.

The CAF is preparing to deploy all manner of aide required. We should soon be seeing a major transportation coordination to get those stranded without fuel out to safe towns, to provide food and first aid, as well as temporary shelters as required. The CAF has a lot of resources at their disposal beyond fire fighters, thank god.

True. I'm still reacting to my Facebook feed (which I've had to close)
I'm surprised at the number of friends and friends of who seem to think if the army had been deployed sooner the town wouldn't be burning.

I may be doing another round of fb cleaning.