Fort McMurray Alberta wildfire

I posted another update with links to photos and videos of the Fort McMurray wildfire on May 10th

May 6,  2016 7:30 PM, EDT

I continue updating the Fort McMurray Alberta Fire on (May 6th) and I shared a CBC interview with a gentlemen who shot a dash cam video as he was evacuating from Fort McMurray in another May 5th article

May 5, 2016 4:50 PM EDT


Direct link to CBC video (uploaded on May 5, 2016)

The Edmonton Journal (1:10 PM local time) and CBC Edmonton (2:44 PM local time) are reporting that the Fort McMurray wildfire has grown to 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres). Update figures on destroyed structures are not yet available.

In a 2:30 PM (local time) update on the Edmonton Journal, John Cotter of the Canadian Press is reporting that there are 22 airtankers working the fire with four more on their way from Quebec. He quotes Chad Morrison of Alberta Forestry in a Thursday (May 5th) press briefing:

But let me be clear: air tankers are not going to stop this fire. It (the fire) is going to continue to push through these dry conditions until we actually get some significant rain.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley updates the media on May 5th


Direct link to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley updating the media earlier this morning (May 5th)

May 5, 2016 9:45 EDT AM (updated at 12:30 to add three non-media sources)

Communities south of Fort McMurray -- Anzac, Gregoire Lake Estates and Fort McMurray First Nation -- were evacuated last night (May 4th) starting around 11 PM. I'm not quite sure the number of those evacuated due to the fire. I've seen figures as high as 88,000 people being evacuated. See this Edmonton Journal article for more information.

Bill Gabbert of Fire Aviation wrote in a May 5th article that Air Spray has readied tanker 489 three works ahead of schedule to help with the Fort McMurray wildfire. I believe, that T-489 is a Lockheed L188 Electra

Here are a list of some sources that I have gone to for information. Regarding the Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) media outlets, both have extensive coverage  available from their home pages as I write this on May 5, 2016). For this reason. I am not linking to all their articles. I leave it to you to check these sites out. With the passage of time and as the fire is hopefully brought under control, I expect that their coverage may change.

• Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been writing here (with updates)
• Edmonton Journal has extensive coverage. 
• CBC Edmonton has extensive coverage.
• Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Wildfire updates (includes Fort McMurray).
• Alberta emergency updates.
• Alberta wildfire status.

May 4, 2016
All residents in Fort McMurray, Alberta are under a mandatory evacuation due to a wildfire that has been burning since at least this past weekend. As I write this I am listening to a live update from officials on the Edmonton Journal, that is (or was) available here. The Edmonton Journal has been providing updates through this event. I took some notes as I listened to the earlier portion of the live update from officials who are involved in the fire:

• Fire has burned about 10,000 hectares (approximately 24,7000 acres) and possibly more.
• Winds will challenge firefighters this afternoon as they did yesterday (May 3rd).
• Yesterday (May 3rd) there were 17 airtankers and 10 helicopters that worked the fire and they expect about the same number of aircraft today.
• Mandatory evacuations for all the entire city of Fort McMurray (approximately 80,000 Fort McMurray residents have been displaced).
• Reports are that at least 1,600 residences and businesses have been destroyed.
• Gas stations in Fort McMurray ran out of gas yesterday (May 3rd), fuel is being provided to motorists on highways out of the city.
• Hospital patients have been evacuated (thanks to WestJet) to the Edmonton area.

Direct link to video (public) from CBC Edmonton's Facebook page


Direct link to video (public) from The Weather Channel's Facebook page

For additional information:

• Bill Gabbert of Wildfire Today has been doing his usual good job as he has detailed coverage of the Fort McMurray wildfire that may be found here. Bill does a good job covering wildfires such as the one that is currently burning in Fort McMurray.
• A report from the Edmonton Journal (Wednesday, May 4nd, 12;12 AM local time) including a dashcam video of the evacuation.