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FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) — A massive convoy is under way, moving evacuees who were stranded at oil field camps north of the fire-ravaged Canadian community of Fort McMurray, Alberta. They're being driven through the community to safe areas south of the city. Police and military have been overseeing the procession of about 1,500 vehicles.
Police are escorting 50 vehicles at a time, south through the city itself and then releasing the convoy. At that point another convoy of 50 cars starts the trip.
Meanwhile, a mass airlift of evacuees is expected to resume, a day after 8,000 people were flown out.
In all, more than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, in the heart of Canada' oil sands, and officials say no deaths or injuries related to the fire have been reported.
The Alberta provincial government, which declared a state of emergency, says more than 1,100 firefighters are involved in the battle, along with 145 helicopters, 138 pieces of heavy equipment and 22 air tankers. But they say they need rain. Forecasters are calling for a 40 percent chance of showers in the area tomorrow.
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160-a-09-(Matthew Anderson, wildfire information officer, in telephone interview)-"to the southeast"-Wildfire information officer Matthew Anderson says the wildfires are not contained, but they are moving away from Fort McMurray. COURTESY: CTV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (6 May 2016)
<<CUT *160 (05/06/16)££ 00:09 "to the southeast"
162-a-07-(Matthew Anderson, wildfire information officer, in telephone interview)-"with this wildfire"-Wildfire information officer Matthew Anderson says a soaking rain is needed to help contain the wildfire. COURTESY: CTV ((mandatory on-air credit)) (6 May 2016)
<<CUT *162 (05/06/16)££ 00:07 "with this wildfire"
APPHOTO CPT118: In this May 5, 2016 photo provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Alberta, an RCMP officer surveys the damage on a street in fire-ravaged Fort McMurray, Alberta. More than 80,000 people have left Fort McMurray, in the heart of Canada's oil sands as a wildfire that has devastated the area exploded in size. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police Alberta via The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (5 May 2016)
<<APPHOTO CPT118 (05/05/16)££
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