“It was mayhem,” says Tyson Mitchell describing his grisly escape from Fort McMurray Alberta.
The Trenton native was given 30 minutes to pack and leave his Thickwood area home before an out of control wild fire now 85,000 hectares in size ripped through the city destroying about 1,600 homes and other buildings. The fire, now in its third day, has forced the evacuation of nearly 90,000 to nearby communities in what officials have called the biggest fire evacuation in the province’s history.
Alberta is under a state of emergency as 49 wildfires are burning with seven considered out of control. 1,100 firefighters, 145 helicopters and 22 air tankers are in action.
Mitchell says it took 12 hours for him and his wife to drive 286 kilometres south with their dog and cat to the Village of Boyle, normally a two hour drive.
He says the fire is very close to his home (six kilometres west of Fort McMurray).
Currently Mitchell is camped out with three other families.
Mitchell says the humanitarian efforts among fellow Albertans has been absolutely heart warming with people offering food, water, gasoline and places to stay.
His friend Jamie Humphrey, also from Trenton, has been helping Mitchell over the phone offering safety routes and providing updates on vacancies at evacuation centres.
Humphrey also lives in the Thickwood area but thankfully was working in Red Deer when the fires started.
He adds the situation has been nothing short of terrifying.
If you are trying to find a loved one you can call 780-762-3636 or the Red Cross at 1-888-350-6070. Facebook has activated its safety check feature to find a loved one.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government of Canada will match all donations to the Red Cross to assist people displaced by the wildfires. Click here to donate. You can also donate $5 by texting “REDCROSS” to 30333. A Facebook Page as a way of crowd sourcing supplies has been set up. For people who need a place to stay here is where you can check in. If you would like to volunteer go here.
Trudeau says the scale of the fire’s destruction has not yet been fully assessed but calls it far-reaching and utterly devastating.
Fort McMurray has the support of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Currently, the RCAF is deploying four CH-146 Griffin helicopters to Fort McMurray and one CC-130J Hercules to CFB Cold Lake.
The RCAF is ready to provide support to the province of Alberta in the provision of air assets, to assist with evacuation efforts, deliver essential aid to affected regions and transport firefighting personnel and equipment to these regions.
Full interview with Tyson Mitchell – Full audio – Tyson Mitchell
Full interview with Jamie Humphrey – Jamie Humphrey