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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    Fort McMurray, Alberta, fires

    On Tuesday, a wildfire near the city of Fort McMurray Alberta (reported population varies; 80,000) quickly ran out of control when the wind direction and speed abruptly shifted. The city was suddenly, direly threatened and the entire population was ordered to evacuate. Many people had very little time to decide what to grab before leaving.

    Though being a dire situation and there being only two routes out of the city, virtually everyone has safely left. It seems that as of Wednesday afternoon there have been only two reported deaths, both in a crash. Reports describe very little panic.

    I have read that about 1,600 structures are already known to be destroyed - unclear if that means homes only, homes and businesses, or what. That number will almost certainly grow as more damage surveys are completed; the city is still in danger and now so are other communities. There are other fires in the province.
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    It is an awful situation yet could have been much worse. It is truly remarkable that there was little panic, little if any chaos, and that no more lives have been lost. It seems that once the danger was clear the responsible governments acted quickly and decisively, giving prompt and clear notice to evacuate. Residents seemed to act without too much Freaking Out. This article at macleans.com describes organisational planning, preparedness, and action, which were very important in giving residents an advance heads up and helped them get out when the order came.

    As so often happens during awful events, good things happen. A gasoline transport (tanker) was sent on one escape route to help people low on fuel, and I read a report of a private person driving his 1,000 liter diesel tanker doing the same. Some people who evacuated to the north have gone to work camps operated for people working at oil sands projects. One evac centre tweeted that pets are welcome. Communities are welcoming evacuees. I've read that Alberta pharmacists will give evacuees emergency prescription refills.

    This interesting article describes how pets can survive fire as well as how emergency responders rescue and otherwise help pets.

    We contributed to the Red Cross relief effort. This page and this one describe how you can help if you are able.
    Last edited by Mr Kleb; 05-05-2016 at 01:34 PM. Reason: add link
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

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  2. #2
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    It's awful. I'm trying to donate online to Red Cross since our Gov't will match those donations. Something not working, I'll try again. Those poor people.
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  3. #3
    Senior Dog shellbell's Avatar
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    I was in Mississauga earlier this week and was watching this on the news, very sad. I am actually going to Banff, Alberta next week. It sounds like the fires are west of there though? I will be flying into the airport in Calgary.

  4. #4
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    Snowshoe, the page may have been overloaded and crashed.

    shellbell, Calgary and Banff are actually well south of Fort McMurray and out of the way.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

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    shellbell (05-05-2016)

  6. #5
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    Was just watching this on the news. Horrible situation.

  7. #6
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Such a sad situation. Watching the news, I too was amazed at the organized evacuation. I found a link to vets, organizations, individuals, grooming salons, etc., who were accepting pets while their owners were getting things sorted out. It was a HUGE list.
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  8. #7
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    barry581, it is horrible.

    In my OP, neglected to include a link. Here it is. . . . This article at macleans.com describes organisational planning, preparedness, and action . . .

    I came across this post at the Weather Underground which describes how climate change seems to have created more favourable conditions for this kind of wildfire. How climate change created these conditions is for another post. Scroll down to and play the video titled Fort McMurray Fire 3 of 6 Dash Cam. Watch it, get an idea of what some evacuees experienced, how easily and understandably people could have panicked, then ponder how people cooperated.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  9. #8
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Very scary. We were watching this on the news tonight. That fire was right on top of the people evacuating. All good thoughts for everyone there.

 



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