On the surface it seems like wildfires just spread and people have to leave, but of course there is more.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36207807
Suncor Energy said its main plant was so far safe but crude production was being cut.
Shell Canada said it was opening its camp to evacuees.
Fort McMurray: Canada's 'manliest' city
On its tourism website, Fort McMurray describes itself as the "gateway to the north" - a region which is home to the third largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
It may be remote, but Fort McMurray's proximity to Canada's rich oil sands has helped it to become a hugely prosperous place, drawing oil workers from across the world. It is not strictly speaking a city, but such has become Fort McMurray's importance in the region that it is commonly referred to as one.
Remarks: The THIRD largest reserves of oil in the world behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Oh whippin' post......
1600 homes destroyed , biggest evacuation in Alberta history , I work in the oil patch and this fire affects a lot of people I know it's a huge disaster . Hot dry weather and high winds making things worse I pray they get rain .
Such a terrible situation. Fort McMurray has a larger population than Portland, Maine's largest city. Hard to imagine an evacuation on that scale due to wildfire in 2016, but it is happening. Some of the video coming from the front lines is terrifying. Thoughts and prayers headed to northwest Canada. 🙁
[Edited on 5/5/2016 by gondicar]
Syncrude for the first time in its 40 year history shut down production and evacuated employees , wild fire headed for Saskatchewan border .
Luckily there has finally been some rain. Praying for a weeks worth of heavy rain.
A friend and his family have lost everything was so good to hear his voice. Amazingly he is just happy to have his family and told me - we rebuild. Drove through the fire to evacuate and could feel his skin burning just from the heat outside the car.
Fire fighter heroes are everywhere and God bless them. Some working 3 straight days with little or no sleep at all.
Luckily there has finally been some rain. Praying for a weeks worth of heavy rain.
A friend and his family have lost everything was so good to hear his voice. Amazingly he is just happy to have his family and told me - we rebuild. Drove through the fire to evacuate and could feel his skin burning just from the heat outside the car.
Fire fighter heroes are everywhere and God bless them. Some working 3 straight days with little or no sleep at all.
Glad your friend is ok. What a terrifying ordeal.
A few graphics that show the relative size of the fire as of late last week...
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/world/canada-fire-city-comparison/
