Mass Evacuations As Wildfire Engulfs Canadian City

A mandatory evacuation notice was issued for the entire city of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada on Tuesday after a raging wildfire began spreading uncontrollably The wildfire raged unchecked through the city of Fort McMurray overnight as authorities raced to complete the evacuation of its population of 80,000, fearing that hot, dry winds forecast for Wednesday would further fan the flames. We’re getting out. Fire seems to be crossing Highway 63. #YMM pic.twitter.com/6X33uLqHAz — Reid Fiest (@ReidFiest) May 3, 2016 The Edmonton Journal Reports: Fuelled by soaring temperatures that hit 32 C and tinder-dry forest, the fire broached the city limits and by 6:20 p.m. a mandatory evacuation order was issued for the entire city. “Today has been a devastating day. We have had explosive fire conditions on the landscape brought on by extremely high temperatures” and low relative humidity, Bernie Schmitte, wildfire manager at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said Tuesday night during a news conference. “The fire is still out of control,” Schmitte said. “We have been challenged on many fronts as the fire came through the community. It has entered the community and it has gone through the community.” Officials have accounted for about 53,000 people, including 17,000 people north [...]