Update 6 | Fort McMurray Wildfire | Alberta Canada

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

Updated Sunday, May 8, 2016 @ 2300 Hours PDT

Multiple fires were reported in the Province of Alberta on May 1, 2016, blazing a patch towards the City.  Almost 100k residents have been evacuated, along with many hundreds – if not thousands from businesses and industrial facilities.

This fire is still growing by the minute into hours and days.  Fire Managers say it is only beginning and is expected to grow by midnight up to 200k hectares or up to 494,211 acres.  This calculates to just over 772 square miles.  If you can imagine this distance, you may have a somewhat imagination at the magnitude of this fire.  The fire images and videos are so surreal and overwhelming. It’s so hard to fathom this large of a Firestorm and its mighty power.

Courtesy: @BoucherMItch

Courtesy: @BoucherMItch

INCIDENT SUMMARY

Start Date & Time:    

  • 5/1/2016.
  • 1607 Hours MDT.

Cause:

  • Unknown
  • Under Investigation

Acres:

  • Expected to grow to 200,000 hectares or 494,211 acres, which equals to 772 square miles by the end of this evening.

Fire Behavior:

  •  Fire conditions remain extreme, with 4 new starts across Alberta, Saturday, 5/7/2016.
  • Expected to grow even larger.
  • A total of  34 wildfires are burning, with 5 out of control, and 23 under control.

State of Emergency:

  • 5/1/2016: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
  • 5/3/2016:  Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation.
  • 5/4/2016:  Provincial State of Emergency for RMWB

INCIDENT COOPERATORS

FIRE RESOURCES

Across Province:

  • Firefighters:  1500.
  • Helicopters:  150.
  • Pieces of Heavy Equipment:  222.

Fort McMurray:

  • Firefighters:  500 fighting in and around Fort McMurray.
  • Canadian FF & Mutual Aid: have saved 80% of housing and infrastructure.

POLICE

  • RCMP – Wood Buffalo

PET RESCUE

  • Alberta Agriculture & Forestry
  • RMWB City
  • Calgary Humane Society
  • Alberta SPCA

EVACUATIONS

North Evacuees

  • Evacuated successfully by air and ground to Edmondton as a precautionary due to heavy smoke in the area.

Syncrude 

  •  Employees:  1500 employees were evacuated on 5/7/2016.
  • Operations:  facility shutdown.

Groups of Employees

  • Suncor:  All evacuated but facility may be still running.
  • Husky:  Same as Suncor.
  • Shell:  Same as Suncor.
  • CNRL:  Same as Suncor.

TRAVEL ADVISORIES

Traffic Alerts:

 BUSINESS PARTNERS

HOUSING

AirBNB:

  • Disaster Response activated.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Emergency Financial Support:

  • Albertans can call 310-4455 for information and stay up to date on the Alberta Emergency Alert and Alberta Wildfire apps

COUNSELING

Mental Health Support:

  • Mental health support is available by calling Alberta’s 24-hour Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

Insurance Claims: 

  • Anyone who has suffered a property loss should contact their insurance provider. They may also be entitled to additional living expenses under their insurance policies.

EVACUEE RESOURCES

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

  • Government Assistance:  Assistance of $1,250 per adult and $500 per dependent to help meet immediate needs being provided by the Government.
  • Pre-loaded Debit Cards: This assistance will likely be provided in the form of pre-loaded debit cards.
  • More details:  when this assistance will be available and how to access it will be announced by May 11, 2016.  Government of Alberta offices will not have additional information until this time. When details are available they will be posted on this page and available through 310-4455.

RECEPTION CENTRES

  • Fort McKay. Fort McKay Business Centre
  • Lac La Biche. The Bolt Centre – 8702-91 Avenue
  • Edmonton. Northlands Grounds, Hall A – 7515-118 Avenue
  • St Paul . Centennial Recreation Centre – 4802-53 Street
  • Moose Haven. 1, Janvier *expected to close May 5
  • Grasslands. Community Hall, Main Street
  • Drayton Valley. Omniplex – 5737-45 Avenue
  • Smokey Lake Reception Centre
  • SAIT – Residence Tower 151 Dr. Carpenter Circle NW *For Suncor Employees and Evacuees in camps
  • Fort Chippewan Reception Centre  *For First Nation Band Members only
  • Town of Athabasca Reception Centre – Athabasca Multiplex, #2 University Drive
  • ESRD. Main Lobby.  Monday – Friday, 0815 – 1600 Hours.  Phone #780-310-3773.  Fax #780-427-4407.  Email:  ESRDInfo-centre@govab.ca

RESOURCES

EMERGENCIES

Environmental:

  •  800-222-6514.

 Report a Wildfire:  

  • 310-3473.

CLOSURES

ROADWAYS

Peace River District:

  •  Mile 80 of Alaska Highway area in the Peace River Regional District.

Hwy 63: 

  • Complete Hwy 63. Closed to the public. (as of 5/5/2016)

ALBERTA FIRE BANS

There is current a Fire ban across the whole Province of Alberta in Canada.

HOW TO HELP

HUMAN SERVICES

Red Cross Canada:

  • The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations via phone, online or through text message. Details can be found at www.redcross.ca.

ALBERTA GOVERNMENT

Volunteers:

  • The government is currently sufficiently staffed. No volunteers are needed at this time.

HASHTAGS

  • #ymmfire  
  •  #ymfire    
  • #abfire    
  • #AlbertaStrong  
  • #FortMcMurrayFire    
  • #BCWildfire
(c) 2016 The #NWFireBlog