Mandatory evacuation extended to the entire city of Fort McMurray

The entire population of the Alberta oilsands city of Fort McMurray was under an evacuation order today as a raging wildfire pushed dark clouds and thick smoke in the the air and spit ash down on residents.

An earlier evacuation order was applied to almost 30 thousand people, mostly on the city’s south side.

By evening, all of Fort McMurray including MacDonald Island was ordered to evacuate.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the province was doing all it could to ensure everyone’s safety. She said she was looking into the possibility of an airlift for residents with medical issues.

Scott Long of Alberta Emergency Management said the flames had burned a number of structures, but he couldn’t say how many.

Work camps associated with oilsands projects well north of the city were being repurposed to house evacuees.

A local radio reporter said a trailer park that had been evacuated on Monday was on fire and flames were advancing toward businesses.

Highway 63, the main way into Fort McMurray from the south, was closed after flames jumped the road.

Fort McMurray is the capital of Alberta’s oilsands region and sits about 435 kilometres northeast of Edmonton.