Wildfire evacuation order issued for parts of Fort McMurray

globalnews.ca:

Residents of several neighbourhoods in Fort McMurray have been ordered to leave their homes as a wildfire rages out-of-control south of the community.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo issued the order at 2 p.m. Tuesday. It’s in effect for the Beacon Hill, Abasand, Prairie Creek, and Grayling Terrace communities.

Residents are being told they must leave their homes by 4 p.m.

All evacuees should register online through the MyAlberta Emergency Registration System (MAERS).

That’s about 6,000 residents, regional fire chief Jody Butz said.

In an update Monday morning, Alberta Wildfire officials said the MWF017 wildfire had grown to about 9,602 hectares in size, about 3,000 hectares larger than it was on Sunday evening.

Alberta Wildfire spokesperson Josee St-Onge said the fire has grown in size and towards the northeast since the last estimate. She said wind is pushing it towards the town of Fort McMurray. St-Onge said the fire is estimated to be about 13.5 km from the Fort McMurray landfill but “smoke is impacting visibility” and making it difficult to determine accurate distances.

The winds from the southwest of up to 40 km/h are “not favourable,” St-Onge explained.

“We’re seeing extreme fire behaviour,” she said. “Smoke columns are developing.”

Firefighters have been pulled from fire lines for safety reasons, St-Onge said, but aerial attack continues.

“We understand this is a very stressful time for the community. We are doing everything we can,” she added.

Butz said crews are confident they can defend the neighbourhoods from fire but need people “out of harm’s way” so they can focus their efforts.

He encouraged Fort McMurray residents to give those under evacuation order time and space to get out before leaving