Canada wildfires spread south, state of emergency in place



ALBERTA: -- A huge wildfire raging near Fort McMurray in Canada has spread south, although a forecast of cooler temperatures and possible rain has raised hopes the blaze can start to be controlled.

The entire province of Alberta is under a state of emergency.

Some 88,000 people have been forced to evacuate the city, while over 1,600 homes and other buildings have been destroyed.

No casualties have been reported as a result of the fires, however at least one fatal vehicle crash has occurred along the evacuation route.

A number of major pipelines have been closed in the oil-producing region, with the blaze halting up to a third of Canada’s daily crude capacity.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-05-06

close calls

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/fort-mcmurray-beacon-hill-evacuation-video-1.3567571?cmp=rss

Canada is now third in the world for oil production, from the tar sands. My best wishes for fellow Canadians in Alberta.

I have been unable to understand whether this fire is feeding on the oil sands or is just a bushfire of extreme dimension. Any additional info would be great. Hope all the victims and firies keep well.

.....is 'something up' in the region....???

.....many people in the region are wondering how this could have happened....

It did not start in the oil fields/tar sands and they say that they are not affected, so far.

I have a daughter not so far from all the action.

My thoughts are with the people in the area. I lived not too far from that area when I was growing up. Very sad.

I have been unable to understand whether this fire is feeding on the oil sands or is just a bushfire of extreme dimension. Any additional info would be great. Hope all the victims and firies keep well.

as canada's northern boreal forest stretches over 5000 continuous km from east to west, this fire is not of extreme dimensions. there is plenty of material yet to be burned if it isnt stopped and at this stage, only the weather can stop it!