Fear, anxiety as thousands flee their homes in Fort McMurray due to threat of wildfire
CBC
Thousands of Fort McMurray residents headed south to safety as a large out-of-control wildfire drew closer to their community, but many are worried they won't have a home to return to.
An evacuation order was issued Tuesday afternoon for the neighbourhoods of Beacon Hill, Abasand, Prairie Creek and Grayling Terrace, as the wildfire southwest of the community continues to grow.
Other areas in Fort McMurray remain on evacuation alert and residents need to be ready to leave on short notice.
Marina Barnes has lived in Fort McMurray for four years and evacuated from her home in Abasand Tuesday.
"I think the worst part right now is the unknown," Barnes told CBC as she and a friend evacuated to Lac La Biche in the evening.
"Not knowing if we're going to have a home to go back to."
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo had told residents to head to an evacuation centre in Lac La Biche, but around 7 p.m., the municipality posted on social media that accommodation in Lac La Biche was full and directed evacuees to Cold Lake, about 147 kilometres to a new evacuation centre at the Agriplex.
The City of Edmonton is also accepting evacuees at a reception centre located in the Clareview Community Recreation Centre at 3804 139th Avenue.
As of Tuesday night, the wildfire threatening the community has covered nearly 21,000 hectares as shifting winds and rising temperatures continue accelerating its growth and pushing the flames closer to the community.
All residents in the evacuation zone were ordered to leave by 4 p.m. MT.
"I could see the orange glow from my balcony, and where I live in Abasand, it's the farthest back apartment. So if the fire were to reach Abasand, my building would have been the first one to get hit," Barnes said.
For some Fort McMurray residents, having to leave home due to the threat of wildfire is a familiar and bitter experience.
"Nothing can prepare you," Aleks Mortlock said as he recalled having his home destroyed in the 2016 fire.
"Still the same anxiety, same things going through your mind, and this time, I have kids to worry about," Mortlock said, noting he was evacuating with two children under the age of six.
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