Canada on Fire

A massive wildfire has forced the 60,000 residents of Fort McMurray to evacuate their city.
The fire appears to be supported by fir trees which grow in the bitumen rich oil sands of the area.

http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2016/05...doubles-in-size
http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/live-blo...fires-1.3565398
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36199993

This is all so terrible, I know Conifers/Fir Trees and the like burn as though they are soaked in petrol. We burned a real Christmas tree once, It scared the life out of me. I can't imaging losing a home and my whole lifes worth in just a few minutes.

it is getting worse.
88,000 evacuated and 1600 structures destroyed.

Live Blog

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/c...tares-1.3566310

Having heard Trudeau on TV last night (and checked CBC video to make sure I heard right), I feel especially sorry for the inhabitants of the town as he apparently he was sympathetic not only to the authorities and officials in Alberta, but also the folks who live there. I don't think even Cameron could make such a statement so unthinking as this.

Quote: mikejee wrote in post #5

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Having heard Trudeau on TV last night (and checked CBC video to make sure I heard right), I feel especially sorry for the inhabitants of the town as he apparently he was sympathetic not only to the authorities and officials in Alberta, but also the folks who live there. I don't think even Cameron could make such a statement so unthinking as this.

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Perhaps something was lost in translation, or has Trudeau learnt to speak English?

But while you guys take the pee out of politicians an entire town of 80,000 people is about to be burnt down.
This is about nature and geography, not politics.

He was speaking in English. He has to to be understood by all Canadians, even if the Quebecois would prefer it otherwise. The video showing his words on the CBC website has mysteriously disappeared , though it was there earlier today and was shown on the BBC news as well. If you search for
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-...fires-1.3565723 in Google however it seems to , at the moment come upp as cached.
I would agree that it is the plight of the inhabitants that is important, but a lack of real interest in the people by politicians who mainly care about their party's program rather than the people they (are supposed to) serve is important also. That is what has happened in this countyr with Jeremy Hunt and his cabal.

It must be really bad for the people who have lost everything because of this fire

Living in Australia we are always nervous in the summer months about fire. Neighbours all watch out for one another and do a ring around if we smell smoke or see fire. On what they call here "catastrophic fire day" majority of country folk stay home and keep watch. The poor people of Canada who are involved must be terrified. Let us all pray that they get rain very soon and this fire is put out so they can start rebuilding their lives.

Thanks for the insight Lostewe. Most us pray for nice weather here. Praying for rain but wouldn't cross our minds. Nice to hear from you SB

Still raging and about to get worse.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-canada-...y-idUKKCN0XX16S

According to the Guardian hard edition, the fire chief Darby Allen originates in Birmingham, and previous to going to Canada worked for the Hampshire fire brigade (though these details are missed out in the online edition)

On sky new ,the fire is now the size of new york ,and getting bigger,the fire fighters are fighting a losing battle.

The fire seems to have passed through Fort McMurray.

The wildfire covered 1,610 sq km (622 sq miles) on Sunday morning, Ms Notley said, and was about 30-40km from the neighbouring province, Saskatchewan.

Cool weather gives "great opportunity" to fight Fort McMurray fire